Join sound recordist Greg Budney in our Video of the Week and learn about one of the first sounds of spring: the wonderful whistled song of the Northern Cardinal. Both male and female cardinals sing, and their songs bringing a cheerful sound to the gray days of late winter and early spring. | Cornell Lab of Ornithology

A white cardinal is not a separate species; it is a rare color variation of the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) caused by a genetic condition called leucism. While often described in social media posts as a "one-in-a-million" bird, expert estimates on their frequency vary, with some suggesting they may occur in approximately 1 out of every 1,800 cardinals. Understanding Leucism Leucism is a genetic mutation that prevents pigment, specifically melanin, from being properly deposited in a