Rosie’s new friend, Jay, is a chestnut Quarter Horse (or possibly Appendix) that has a number of small white spots across his body, roughly the size of a dime or a quarter. This curious phenomenon is known as Birdcatcher spots. Named for a 19th-century Irish Thoroughbred stallion, these elusive markings are more than just eye-catching—they carry a bit of equine mystery with them.
What Are Birdcatcher Spots?
Birdcatcher spots are small, round or oval white spots that appear — and disappear — over time. Unlike other white markings that horses are born with — such as ticking, roaning (which you can see in Rosie’s coat) or sabino spotting, Birdcatcher spots are impermanent, sometimes changing locations between seasons, or appearing spontaneously later in life (which seems to have been the case with Jay). They usually appear on a solid-colored coats—most commonly on bays, chestnuts, and blacks. They are typically found on the face, legs, chest, or even on the horse’s back.
Where Did the Name Come From?
The name traces back to Birdcatcher, a famous Thoroughbred born in 1833 in Ireland. He was a successful racehorse and an even more influential sire, leaving a deep imprint on Thoroughbred pedigrees. Birdcatcher had white specks that would come and go, mostly above his tail and on his flanks—they were so distinctive that they were eventually named after him. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any paintings of him that show the infamous spots.
Are Birdcatcher Spots Only Found on Thoroughbreds?
While Birdcatcher was a Thoroughbred and many Thoroughbreds do show these spots, they’re not exclusive to the breed. Birdcatcher spots can occasionally be found in Warmbloods, Arabians, Standardbreds, and even Quarter Horses, especially those with some Thoroughbred ancestry.
That said, they remain relatively rare across all breeds, and their spontaneous nature makes them a bit of an oddity—even among experienced horse people.
What Causes Birdcatcher Spots?
The short answer: no one knows for sure. Because the markings were observed in several of Birdcatcher’s offspring and descendants, it suggests the trait might have a genetic basis, though the exact cause remains poorly understood. Because of their association with this one influential stallion, the term “Birdcatcher spots” stuck.
The prevailing theories suggest a somatic mutation—a change in skin or hair follicle cells that affects pigment—or a dormant genetic trait that can be switched on or off. Because the spots can disappear and return (and even move), many believe they are not tied to a permanent genetic marker but perhaps influenced by environment, age, or hormonal changes.
Birdcatcher spots are one of those little horsey mysteries that remind us how much we still don’t fully understand about coat color genetics. Named for a legendary stallion and not limited to any one breed, these fleeting white specks add a touch of intrigue to any horse lucky enough to wear them—even if only for a season.
Very nice post about Birdcatcher spots. I always wondered about them. My friend’s Hanoverian Raven (who was actually Trakehner/TB but registered as Hanoverian) had a few of them, and I remember at least one that mysteriously appeared and then vanished. It was right at the withers, which made us think that it was from saddle fit, but no……..the saddle fit him like a glove, and examination of the spot showed it was strictly hair color. And like so many things that disappear, I don’t remember when they did. I really don’t remember them coming and going. But it’s not to say they didn’t. He was a black bay. Other than a wisp of white on his forehead, the spots were his only chrome.
Yes, Rosie and Jay look to be quite happy together. It may be that you’ve acquired another horse whether you intended it or not?
Jay is a good egg. Given that Freedom is still on my payroll I’m not sure I’m ready to add a third horse to the mix!
My Missouri Foxtrotter has a lot of them. I joke about them and say he wants to be an Appaloosa. He is a sorrel. I’m guessing since thoroughbred was one of the breeds used to create the MFT he might have Birdcatcher in the lineage.