Gainesville, Florida — The Florida Museum of Natural History ornithology collections manager, Andy Kratter, was treated to what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity upon seeing this rare cardinal in a wooded area at the University of Florida. He had maybe seen thousands of cardinals before, but this was his first time seeing a yellow cardinal. It is said that there are only 10-15 yellow cardinals that fly around the eastern U.S., so encountering one of them is indeed very rare.
The vibrant bird was spotted near the University for several weeks, and it has become the newest wildlife attraction in the area.
Northern cardinals usually sport a bright red color, but sometimes, yellow cardinals appear in their midst. It is said that those with yellow color are missing a specific enzyme in their bodies (which is probably caused by a genetic mutation). This enzyme is responsible for converting the yellow pigment, which comes from their diet of grains, seeds, and fruit, to red.
(Images: Brad McClenny/ The Gainesville Sun)
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