A "one-in-a-million" albino magpie has been found living in Tasmania's north.

Key points: Keepers say the magpie would not survive in the wild because its white coat would make it a target for predators

Keepers say the magpie would not survive in the wild because its white coat would make it a target for predators The bird is "an absolute character" and "prefers to be handfed despite being able to feed himself"

The bird is "an absolute character" and "prefers to be handfed despite being able to feed himself" Experts say there are no accurate statistics that show how common albinism is in birds, but that social media has helped draw our attention to uncommon plumages

Instead of making its home in a suburban backyard, the unnamed bird lives alongside a yellow-tailed black cockatoo in the Trowunna Wildlife Park.

The young male was handed in as a fledgling bird late last year, and has been unable to be released into the wild.

"It was found at the base of a tree with no possibility of getting back to the nest," operations manager Darren Rumble said.

"As soon as we had the bird brought in, we knew we'd be taking care of him for his whole life — if we let him go, he won't last more than a day."

Due to the albino magpie's white pigmentation, Mr Rumble said it was susceptible to a high rate of predation.

"He'd be a prime target for crows or any other bird of prey," he said.

"He is a genuine albino and the statistics around a genuine albino magpie are around one in a million.

"You do see other forms of colour dysmorphia called leucism but that's a dilution of the dark pigment which can go into a creamy colour of the feathers, but the bird will still have normal coloured legs, beak and eyes.

"He's got the total absence of the pigment."

Last year magpies with leucism were spotted in Adelaide. ( ABC News: Simon Royal )

Magpie prefers to be handfed, 'talks to anyone'

Mr Rumble described the bird as "an absolute character".

"He talks to anyone who comes near him, he's a real unique individual," he said.

According to Mr Rumble, the magpie prefers to be handfed despite being able to feed himself.

As for what he eats?

"It's a mix of stuff … like baby mice and diced meat," Mr Rumble said.

Rare, or more common than we know?

BirdLife Tasmania Convenor Dr Eric Woehler said it was impossible to say how rare a genuine albino magpie really was.

"We don't really have a real sense of the degree albinism in the bird population generally," Dr Woehler said.

"We know it happens because we're getting more and more reports of these types of cases.

"It's more down to people being more aware of their surroundings and being able to communicate something unusual immediately."

Bruny Island, off Tasmania's coast, has a population of white wallabies. ( ABC News: Katri Uibu )

Dr Woehler said 20 years ago a bird like this would have been hearsay, as mobile phones didn't have the same photographic capabilities as they do now.

"Because we don't have sense of the degree of albinos in the population, we've got no real sense that the rate is increasing," he said.

"We know it's a widespread phenomenon in the environment."

According to Dr Woehler, BirdLife Tasmania received two to three records a year of unusual plumage.

However, there was no reason to think one species was more prone to mutation in plumage than any other species.

"It's an interesting record, it's worth documenting," Dr Woehler said.

"We've had black cockatoos that are yellow … we'll add it to our list of unusual birds in Tasmania."