Kentucky Ornithological Society

Yellow Northern Cardinal

Photos by David Gourley

Boyle County, KY

January 2011



According to bird plumage expert Geoff Hill (Auburn University): This cardinal is yellow because of a rare genetic mutation. The mutation is

associated with fitness costs so it doesn't spread in areas. It arises de nova once in a while. I've looked at an estimated 50,000 cardinals in my

lifetime and I've never seen a yellow one (except a museum specimen at LSU).

Geoff and two colleagues published a paper based on the yellow Northern Cardinal in the LSU collection. A pdf version of the paper is available at:

www.biology.eku.edu/kos/kos_images/NOCA_pigments.pdf





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