In the last 5 summers a white goose have been observed in between the barnacle geese observed near the dogyard, just outside Longyearbyen.

The bird is in fact a leucistic barnacle goose. Leucistic birds lack all or some pigmentation in the feathers, but they are not albinos. They have normal colored eyes, unlike albinos and the condition does not necessarily affect all the birds’ feathers.

The white geese are believed to have the same breeding and survival potential as the normal barnacle geese. However their lifespan is estimated at only 2-3 yeas (compares to 8-10 years for barnacle geese in general) as their unusual color makes them more attractive to hunters and possibly also predators. However, the light colored goose currently residing in Adventdalen have been observed for the past 5 years and leucistic barnacle geese have been known to lived to at least 18 years of age.

 
Read more: Owen, M. and Skimmings, P. (1992). The occurrence and performance of leucistic Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis. Ibis, 134 ,1, pp.22-26.
 

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Leucistic barnacle goose, Svalbard. Photo Inge Bakkeland/ www.svalbardbirds.com