That’s because it’s a gynandromorph, which mens that it has both male and female characteristics.
Jerry Coyne explains that we really don’t know why this bird is a gynandromorph.
There is quite a bit of speculation as to why it look like this.
But one side it’s a female cardinal, and on the other, it is male.
A very freaky looking bird, one that needs more study.
***
I always thought it strange that only cardinals get to choose the new pope.
Why don’t they let other birds have a chance?
In cardinals, the males are bright right red and sassy, and the females are pretty meek.
Maybe that’s why the catholic church only allows males in the priesthood.
Please indulge my attempts at humor.
At the very least, move casually away from the computer…
Has this confused little birdie been captured? How do the other birds react to it?
Soooo many questions.
That is one funky looking bird. He/she/it looks like a court jester.
It’s because the cardinals know how to throw a party and bring their own bunting. The post papal party feast is a strange affair. They hate pepper, but saltador. All that food guaranteed to give them grosbeaks though. It’s hard to eat a tanager-ine with your beak. *badoom, toosh*
Stick a fork in me, I’m done.
One need only watch R.C. ceremonies that include the “Princes of the Church” (I hate that phrase) and nuns, or compare a photo say of Mother Mary Clare Millea (mouthpiece for the LCWR–the American nuns recently chastised by the Vatican) and Cardinal Roger Mahony in church garb, to see the parallels.
As for the bird itself, might it not be a chimera? There are documented cases of human chimerae arising from the fusion of mixed-gender fraternal twins–this from Wikipedia:
“In 1953 a human chimera was reported in the British Medical Journal. A woman was found to have blood containing two different blood types. Apparently this resulted from cells from her twin brother living in her body.[9] More recently, a study found that such blood group chimerism is not rare.[10] Another report of a human chimera was published in 1998, where a male human had some partially developed female organs due to chimerism. He was conceived by in-vitro fertilization.[1]“
Look up the QH stallion “Dunbar’s Gold”
Also “Stetsons Mr Blue”
Too bad one cardinal get to vote…LA’s criminal cardinal, Roger Mahoney.
[...] This cardinal will not be selecting the next pope (retrieverman.net) [...]
I’m naming him Harvey Dent! :)
Reminds me more of the old variety acts where someone dresses up as half man half woman and sings a duet by turning round for each part.
Beautiful bird. Reminds me of half-sider budgies.
http://halfsider.com/uploads/3/0/7/9/3079654/5273280_orig.jpg?256