Odd Male Cardinal

 We have had lots of visits by cardinals to the bird feeder the past few days. I saw 4 male cardinals on our patio at one time today, 2 at the feeder and 2 on the ground.

As I was eating breakfast this morning and looking out at the patio, I saw an odd male cardinal. At first, I could not figure out why he struck me as odd. He had no black face mask! I have never seen such a bird before. I was unable to get a photo, but I found one somebody had posted on the internet with the question of why her bird was different.

There was a link to a David Sibley explanation (bird book author).

Lacking eumelanin (Non-eumelanic)

A female Cardinal completely lacking the black/gray pigment eumelanin, this leaves only the rufous to buff phaeomelanin pigment (and red carotenoids). Original gouache painting copyright David Sibley.

The most obvious differences from the normal bird include the lack of the blackish face and the greatly reduced pigment in wings and tail leading to very pale wingtips and tail tip. This condition is rare and can be very similar to some dilute plumage conditions. Note that in a species that lacks the chestnut/buff phaeomelanin pigment (crows, many gulls, etc.) this same condition – a lack of eumelanin – will result in completely white plumage.

His sketch was of a female cardinal, but the same condition occurs in males as well. It is pretty rare.

I am keeping a watch for this unusual bird, but so far this afternoon he has not returned. He spiced up my day.