Birdwatchers Are Going Crazy Over One In Million Rare Bird Spotted In Alabama. But Why Is It So Special?

4A rare genetic mutation

This cardinal is said to have a rare genetic mutation that does not allow it to assimilate red hues the typical color which cardinals are commonly known to have. Ornithologist Professor Geoffrey Hill curator of the Auburn University Alabama says that the bird is one in a million find. He says that Charlie Stephenson is extremely lucky as a birdwatcher. 

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5Stephenson was excited after seeing the bird

Stephenson was very excited after seeing the bird. She recalls thinking, 'Well, there's a bird I've never seen before, then I realized it was a cardinal, and it was a yellow cardinal.". The rare yellow cardinal still visits Stephenson’s backyard feeder and she also mentioned the reason why she hasn’t given out her address is because too many enthusiasts may crowd the place and scare the bird away. She, however, has posted pictures of the bird on social media. 

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6She got a professional to photograph the bird

The photographs of the rare yellow cardinal were taken by Stephenson’s professional photographer friend Jeremy Black who waited 5 hours to capture shots of the bird. The biggest question is how the bird got its unusual yellow feathers. 

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7How cardinals get their colors

The rare yellow cardinal like red cardinals depends on organic pigments called carotenoids from its diet which turns its feather into the beautiful yellow color. But according to research, there are other genes that determine which of the colored pigments the bird deposits into its bare skin and feathers. For example red cardinals get their red color from four orange or yellow pigments that they consume. 

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