"At first Mr Hill wondered if the bird was leucistic - a term that means the specimen would have a loss of pigmentation in its feathers, but would not be half-female, half-male.<p>But after seeing mobile phone pictures, he suspected it had what is called bilateral gynandromorphism, which is when a bird would have both a functioning ovary and a functioning single testis."<p>So, uh, it would have been interesting if they had mentioned WHY the ornithologist thought it was gynandromorphic rather than leucistic? I'm not an ornithologist but it seems like a pigment mutation is a simpler explanation...
There were two giant northern cardinals "playing" (who knows) in my front yard yesterday morning. This was right after the snow started melting, so their bright red coloring really stood out.<p>Maybe it's me getting old, but it's nice to see things like that every now and then.
I think it's lovely how accessible high quality photographic equipment has become. Naturalism is much easier when it's not just the "professionals" who have access to high-quality telephoto equipment. These clear, detailed photographs were taken in a rush!<p>Technology is so good that even entry level cameras have sensors that put professional camera sensors from fifteen years ago to shame. It's easy to feel like we are drowning in lazy photography, but the same technology makes things like this possible.
So, in what other species can "bilateral gynandromorphism" occur? I'm not having much success googling this.<p>Also, is this just a specific type of genetic mosaicism? I've heard of humans with mosaic DNA (sometimes showing up as patches of alternative skin/hair coloration, etc.); but for some reason I've never heard of humans with mosaic DNA of two different chromosomal sexes.
Another one?<p>I'm originally from that part of the country, and I swear my mom sends me a story like this every couple of years.<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/science/cardinal-sex-gender.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/science/cardinal-sex-gend...</a>
A different cardinal with the same condition, but with more distinct coloring.<p>Half white, half colored
<a href="https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/water-cooler/northern-cardinal-with-rare-abnormality-spotted-in-texas" rel="nofollow">https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/water-cooler/northern-c...</a><p>really interesting!
Hard not to wonder if the endocrine disrupting chemicals we haven't banned but are changing sexes of many species, likely including ourselves, contributed.
Anyone during childhood have to study a particular state? I was given Pennsylvania in grade school. Basically a poster everyone does about state birds, flowers.<p>All I remember about this poster which I had forgotten about until now is the state bird, cardinal. I think it is also the only red bird of this size?