This evening, I witnessed what has to be in my top 5 of bird “fascinomas”. “Gynandromorphism” is the term for both sexes expressed in a single individual. Sometimes, this can be expressed, as a Cardinal photo which made the circuit sev yrs ago, as a distinct half & half (extremely rare) or as a patch-work of both features.

I saw a Lazuli Bunting at the feeder that had the body markings of a female: brownish with buffy breast & buffy wing bars. And the male turquoise blue coloration on the top of the head/throat & rump of the same bird. The sides of the head & the tail of this bird were female grayish brown. So, a gynandromorphic Lazuli Bunting! Just plain…fascinating.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot