Pink Cardinal ???
Oct 26, 2013 22:03:16 #
Enclosed are four different shots (same bird) of what I believe to be a cardinal with unusual coloring...the final two images are of recent shots I have taken of a male and a female cardinal, for comparison purposes...what do you think?
I suspect some sort of pigmentation issue with this bird?
I suspect some sort of pigmentation issue with this bird?
Pink Cardinal #1
Pink Cardinal #2
Pink Cardinal #3
Pink Cardinal #4
Male Cardinal
Female Cardinal
Oct 26, 2013 22:23:29 #
Interesting. I wonder what caused the color to be, what looks like to me, faded?
Oct 26, 2013 22:24:05 #
Could he/she be a baby who hasn't developed his/her full color yet?? Just a thought...
Oct 26, 2013 22:58:21 #
I think you just have two year old birds here. Most birds in the wild...well, quite a few, don't develop their full color until they are three. If they show up this way come springtime, then I might think they were different. Babies are, a lot of times, your regular dull brown the first year, regardless of male/female gender, but by three, when they are ready to mate and grow their own brood, their color is brilliant.
We need Miss Carolina Wings here. She could tell us maybe. She knows birds I've never even seen!!! Or Birdpix ........ some of the people here know their birds!!!!!
We need Miss Carolina Wings here. She could tell us maybe. She knows birds I've never even seen!!! Or Birdpix ........ some of the people here know their birds!!!!!
Oct 26, 2013 23:05:31 #
ebrunner wrote:
Interesting. I wonder what caused the color to be, what looks like to me, faded?
Faded is a good description...
Oct 26, 2013 23:06:33 #
sailorsmom wrote:
Could he/she be a baby who hasn't developed his/her full color yet?? Just a thought...
i suppose it could be...but the bird appeared to be full grown....mystery to me
Oct 26, 2013 23:07:38 #
Singing Swan wrote:
I think you just have two year old birds here. Mos... (show quote)
Guess that could be; however where we live I see scores of cardinals everyday...never have i seen this...
Oct 27, 2013 06:34:01 #
Oct 27, 2013 07:21:40 #
Possibly leucism, a condition caused by reduced pigmentation in animals caused by a recessive allele.
Leucism in Canada Goose
Oct 27, 2013 09:49:59 #
Hando Rei wrote:
Could be a immature bird not yet in prime condition ?
Perhaps, but appeared to be full grown...
Oct 27, 2013 10:06:44 #
Rmellor1491 wrote:
Possibly leucism, a condition caused by reduced pigmentation in animals caused by a recessive allele.
Researched leucism in birds and believe you may have nailed it....one of the possible outcomes is an "overall paleness of coloring"...see brief discussion below:
http://feederwatch.org/learn/unusual-birds/#color-variants
The one continuing issue is the black beard on the bird...in the image of the several geese, the affected goose's normal black feathers are brown...not so with this cardinal...who knows....
Oct 27, 2013 15:06:58 #
Agree with the comment above. The Wikipedia article on cardinals says, "The plumage color of the males is produced from carotenoid pigments in the diet."
Oct 27, 2013 15:09:29 #
Oct 27, 2013 15:39:39 #
Oct 27, 2013 16:49:59 #
wings42 wrote:
Agree with the comment above. The Wikipedia article on cardinals says, "The plumage color of the males is produced from carotenoid pigments in the diet."
I agree with wings42, it could be something lacking in his diet;
Case in point, I have seen yellow House Finches due to their dietary intake.
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