this is a northern cardinal displaying bilateral gynandromorphism – the left side of the bird’s body is male, and the right side is female. unlike intersex individuals, the bird is entirely ‘split’ between male and female. likely due to its strange appearance, the bird was never observed with a mate or producing vocalizations, and was not often seen being social with other cardinals. despite how rare bilateral gynandromorphism is, one other case was recorded in a northern cardinal in 1969 – with the male and female sides reversed.
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