Snow White Penguin Chick

Not all emperor penguins sport black and white tuxedoes. Scripps reseacher Gerald Kooyman spotted this unique all white emperor chick, dubbed Snowflake, during a penguin survey on the ice shelf of the Ross Sea, Antarctica, in December 1997.Its white feathers blended in so well with the icy background that Kooyman said he almost missed the chick ? emperor penguin chicks are usually covered in a grayish down coat, with dark tail feathers and dark bills and feet.Scientists don t think Snowflake is an albino, however, as it didn t have the characteristic pink eyes associated with albinism.