Rooster changed from black and white to white

[Izengolf]

Hello, first post but I have been reading the forum for a couple of years now. I wanted a rooster to sort out the hens from fighting and give some protection from predators. Breed was not important, I had to buy what I could get locally. He's a nice bird, not aggressive with people, takes good care of his ladies. He was said to be an Australorp by the seller and was a very handsome bird despite being a mixed breed of some sort. Picture one is how he looked this summer after his moult last fall. This fall he had a more pronounced moult and it almost 100% white! Does he have more feathers to come to return his black plumage or is the change permanent? His long tail feathers haven't come back and I can't tell if they will be white or black yet.

Any information would be appreciated!

 

[tripletfeb]

Those are clearly two different birds. Shank color will not change with a molt. Nor comb size

 

[Izengolf]

No, it is the same bird, I only have one rooster and took the white photo yesterday. This was him Dec 4, 2020. I just joined today so I could ask about this, it is so strange.

 

[Izengolf]

This the GPS data with the photos, same rooster.

 

[tripletfeb]

Looks like different birds to me . I'll tag some people who would know a lot more but keep in mind, it is very late here in the USA so you will likely have to wait for a response
@Overo Mare

 

[Izengolf]

Thank you for the help. He is healthy with no change in personality or activity, I'm just curious why the dramatic change. I did see a thread on spontaneous amelatonosis (sp?) and wondered if it could be the cause.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Looks like different birds to me . I'll tag some people who would know a lot more but keep in mind, it is very late here in the USA so you will likely have to wait for a response
@Overo Mare

 

[All4Eggz]

I definitely see 2 different birds. A color change that dramatic is probably impossible.

 

[Painted Calls]

*cracks knuckles*

Something weird to do with splash.

Am I right Moony?

 

[Painted Calls]

It's the same bird. If you look closely the first bird has white skin. Comb is also exactly the same.

He is gorgeous OP! Though I do prefer his old blue/maybe funky splash/maybe mottled or something color.

Enlighten us @The Moonshiner