Concord, New Hampshire – A rare genetic mutation could cause a bright yellow northern cardinal to appear in New Hampshire backyards this spring, an occurrence experts estimate may happen in roughly one in a million birds.
Northern cardinals are widely recognized for the male’s vivid red feathers. According to ornithologists, that red coloration comes from carotenoid pigments found in fruits and berries. In extremely rare cases, a genetic mutation prevents the pigments from converting to red, resulting in yellow plumage instead.
Though uncommon, documented sightings continue to surface nationwide. Two of the most recent confirmed reports occurred in Bath, Michigan, in 2024 and in the St. Louis, Missouri, area in 2025.
Wildlife experts emphasize that yellow cardinals are not a separate species and are not considered a threat or environmental warning sign. They are healthy northern cardinals displaying a naturally occurring genetic variation.
Cardinals do not migrate and remain year-round across much of New Hampshire. Spring breeding season often increases activity at backyard feeders, where the birds commonly eat seeds and berries, especially black-oil sunflower seeds.
Residents who notice unusual coloration are encouraged to document sightings through bird-monitoring platforms such as eBird to assist researchers tracking rare occurrences.
While the odds remain extremely low, careful observation this season could reveal one of the rarest backyard bird variations in North America.
