No, the Yellow Northern Cardinal is not another species of cardinal, just a rare genetic mutation of the ordinary Northern Cardinal. See some great images of one in Kentucky, along with a link to a paper than explains the phenomenon (PDF).
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
From Ajax Ontario,
Saw a bird which I had never seen before which I could only describe as a yellow Cardinal. It looked exactly like a Cardinal with yellow feathers
Looked it up as I had never seen one before and don’t I know it I come across this site. What I saw looked exactly like the images from Kentucky so I am sure it was one.. very neat to see
I have one eating off my bird feeder! So pretty:) my husband didn’t believe me until he saw her, I believe it’s a female because it looks like the other female we have 6 females that come around and 4 males:) When I first saw her I thought her coloring was like a parrot! And now I know were not crazy! We are in Tomball, Tx
Sighting today of the yellow cardinal first time ever yesterday at our many feeder. I believe this to be a male yellow, not female because he has the same black eye band and crest as the male. St Louis
I believe I saw my first Yellow Cardinal! Trying to hurry to get pics before it flew away, so my pics are a bit blurry! But I am so sure it is A Yellow Cardinal….
Yesterday, March 21, 2012, a yellow cardinal arrived at our bird feeder in Kenly, North Carolina. My wife got two pics of the bird. We were not familiar that there is such a bird as a yellow cardinal. I wonder if it is a mutation or a separate species altogather. We have perhaps fifteen pairs of the northern red cardinal at our feeders and this was a pleasant shock.
As to Amanda in Tomball Texas, I too have a “Yellow” Cardinal visiting my Lake House in Willis, Texas (about 30 miles west of Tombal). So it seems they might not be so rare.
We have had this Red Cardinal hanging around our house for a while, it seems to be obsessed with the side view mirrors on our cars. This morning I look out and on the porch is what looks to be a Yellow Cardinal. I had to look it up, I have never seen or heard of one before. Its pretty neat. I am located in Argyle Texas.
We had a yellow cardinal in our backyard yesterday ( 2-20-13). Tried to take a picture but it flew away before I got a chance.
I have just today 5-5-2013 at around 11 am to noon a what appears to be a yellow cardnial with a female that is darker and only has yellow on her chest but the male was totally awsome!!! he was as pretty as a red cardnial if not prettier.They say they are rare and we live in arkansas northern part ,anyone have info on these awsome birds.
Seen a female, I believe, the morning of September 15th in Shreveport, LA. She had been around since the end of August but is quick to fly away when I try to get outside with a good camera. Saw her again this morning as I was holding my 3 month old. Had to get what I could on the phone. She is about the same color as the yellow finch feeder. Have a look:
http://t.co/kXSpaXuE6W
http://t.co/1wOOk6E2Ci
http://t.co/MkMNpFdkUG
I saw my first yellow cardinal yesterday at work in the Quad Cities IA she was a female, then today there were 4 females. Beautiful! A co-worker tried to get pics but they didn’t turn out well on phone looked like a female cardinal with a yellow belly.
Just saw a bright yellow cardinal on L.I. Ny. 2/10/16. A beautiful bird. I am going to try to get a pic
I have yellow Cardinal with red splashes on it’s side. Looks to be a male. And a smaller yellow with greenish wings and tail. It looks to be a female. They have been hanging out in our backyard for the past several days. Can anyone tell me where they are from and if they are cardinals? Thank you for any information you can give me. Oh, and they drive my other cardinals away from the feeders!
Oh, I am in Arlington, Texas!
have a yellow cardinal/orange beak–pretty awsome. i live in lexington, ky and have pictures, however camera is not very good and have to shoot through window to booth–cardinal has been around for a couple of days
I do not know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else experienching isssues with your site.
It seems like some of the text inn your posts are running off the screen. Can somebody
else please comment and let mme know if this is happening
to them too? This mayy be a problem with my internet browser because
I’ve had this happen before. Manyy thanks
I have a male and a female yellow cardinal. I am in Tulsa Oklahoma and this is the first time I have ever seen them.
Would you be willing to let an animal photographer come and see them? I have an acquaintance with Wild Heart Ranch (Greg Silva) that does fabulous photography.
Yellow cardinal spotted in our yard in Bailey, NC. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Glad I had a witness.