Rare Cardinal at Bird Feeder

I have seen this cardinal at my bird feeder several times in the last few weeks. This is the best photo I have been able to get to-date. It's head is white with a red top notch. Hope to get a better photo. After researching the Internet. It describes this as a rare bilateral gynandromorph condition which means the bird is half female and half male resulting in the color phase. Has anyone else seen one like this?


cardinal white head by wfhunter, on Flickr

Yep! Had one just like that in our back yard about a year ago. We just thought it was a young male, but it looked exactly like that. Haven't really looked for it, but will start watching to see if he/she is still around.

That is a weird looking bird.

I have never seen one like it.

Had a pink one a couple of years ago. I think he went both ways too.

lol

http://wordlesstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/A-Rare-half-male-and-half-female-Bird-1.jpg


cool bird

Awesome. Have never seen one

So hermaphrodites are not just on the TFF....cool.

I have seen one like that before. I thought it was just a female cardinal.

That bird is called a Pyrrhuloxia, looks like a cardinal but slightly different plumage.

Does the belly have the red tint to it or no?

http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/ncard_leucistic.htm

http://photoncongeries.zenfolio.com/p404757274/h36876866#h36876866

Does not have a red tint to the belly, looks more whitish.

This photo you posted sure looks like it!

Here are a couple links to what I referenced.


http://news.discovery.com/animals/bi-color-cardinal-mystery-110531.htm

http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/12/half-male-half-female-bird-has-rough-life

I don't think this is what it is. Close!

Or the THF! LOL!



I don't know what it is, but fun seeing a strange bird at the feeder.

I've seen a couple of those when I was a teenager in San Antonio.

Bill would be yellow instead of reddish orange.

Neat pic

http://ctaudubon.blogspot.com/2012/02/leucistic-northern-cardinal.html

this one looks a lot like it too. Supposedly its reduced pigmentation.

Leucism is essentially a reduced pigmentation as normal colors still occur over much of the feathers. It is not the same condition as albinism, a mutation that prevents melanin from being produced at all. You'll notice I said this bird was pied, a term for birds with patches of white. Others are called pale as their entire body has a reduction in pigmentation, though in the same manner or to the same degree as an albinistic bird.

Leucism is rare in birds, and albinism is exceptionally rare. If you feed your backyard birds for many years you stand a good chance of seeing a leucistic bird at some point.

That was fascinating! Thanks for all the references folks.

Looks like you solved the mystery to me!

Hopefully I can get a better photo. If I do I will post. Thanks

Have a bunch of those that come into the feeder at one of my spots in Archer County. At least 4-5 come in every afternoon.

Always thought it was a female Cardinal as well... Cool thread!

Maybe he just got old, like a lot of us, & turned white headed!

Interesting!

I think it has some leucism in it. Shoot a lot of redhead hens with all blotchy white heads like that, very cool

Me either

Very cool!

Update: I am still seeing the white headed female cardinal at my feeders. Had a chance today to try and get another photo with my Nikon. Not the best as it is raining, dark, and I was holding the camera.


White Head Cardinal 2-22-2015 by wfhunter, on Flickr


white head cardinal 2 2-22-2015 by wfhunter, on Flickr


white head cardinal 1 2-22-2015 by wfhunter, on Flickr

Cool pic!