Described as a “one in a million” find, a male yellow-pigmented Northern cardinal was spotted at a backyard feeder!!
The yellow cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is the only member of its genus, Gubernatrix.
It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, and temperate grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss and by pet trade trappers. The main gender that is caught is males. As such, the Yellow Cardinal is characterized as endangered due to the constant entrapment. There was a study conducted that looked at the vocalization of the Yellow Cardinal in its habitat. It was found that there was some variation with the Common Diuca Finch.
The current global population of Gubernatrix cristata is between 1000 and 2000. Studies have shown that there are some genetic differences between different populations. Another study has shown that the yellow cardinal presents plasticity in song production, with small differences in song among four different populations.
Charlie Stephenson of Alabaster, Alabama, an experienced birder, found the rare bird hanging out in her feeder. He didn’t know what it was at first, “I thought ‘well there’s a bird I’ve never seen before.’ Then I realized it was a cardinal, and it was a yellow cardinal.”
Posted by Jeremy Black on Saturday, February 17, 2018
Geoffrey Hill, a biology professor at Auburn University, believes that the bird “carries a genetic mutation. This mutation causes what would normally be brilliant red feathers to be bright yellow instead. He says, “There are probably a million bird feeding stations in that area so very very roughly, yellow cardinals are a one in a million mutation.”
Wow, so cool!!
