Rare half-male, half-female bird spotted at suburban Chicago preserve
<p>Local researchers and bird-lovers were in awe this spring when they spotted a rare bird with both male and female characteristics at a nature preserve in suburban Barrington.</p><p>The mysterious bird was a bobolink, and was identified as a bilateral gynandromorph: The bird’s body was divided down the middle, with one side having male characteristics, and the other side female.</p><p>Luke Dahlberg, a conservation seed program manager with Citizens for Conservation and a longtime birder, first encountered the bird May 10 at the organization’s Hill ’N Dale Preserve. Due to its dual color, he named it “Black and Tan,” and experts say its discovery can help provide a greater look into the condition.</p><p>Dahlberg was photographing bobolinks as they returned to the area for the summer when he noticed one bird that looked different from the others.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>Local researchers and bird-lovers were in awe this spring when they spotted a rare bird with both male and female characteristics at a nature preserve in suburban Barrington.</p><p>The mysterious bird was a bobolink, and was identified as a bilateral gynandromorph: The bird’s body was divided down the middle, with one side having male characteristics, and the other side female.</p><p>Luke Dahlberg, a conservation seed program manager with Citizens for Conservation and a longtime birder, first encountered the bird May 10 at the organization’s Hill ’N Dale Preserve. Due to its dual color, he named it “Black and Tan,” and experts say its discovery can help provide a greater look into the condition.</p><p>Dahlberg was photographing bobolinks as they returned to the area for the summer when he noticed one bird that looked different from the others. </p><p>At first, he thought the unusual coloring might have been caused by molting.</p><p>When he returned to the same spot weeks later, he saw the bird once again and could immediately tell the bird was divided. In nature, male bobolinks have distinctive black-and-white breeding plumage, while females have more muted brown and golden coloring.
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- <p>Local researchers and bird-lovers were in awe this spring when they spotted a rare bird with both male and female characteristics at a nature preserve in suburban Barrington.</p><p>The mysterious bird was a bobolink, and was identified as a bilateral gynandromorph: The bird’s body was divided down the middle, with one side having male characteristics, and the other side female.</p><p>Luke Dahlberg, a conservation seed program manager with Citizens for Conservation and a longtime birder, first encountered the bird May 10 at the organization’s Hill ’N Dale Preserve. Due to its dual color, he named it “Black and Tan,” and experts say its discovery can help provide a greater look into the condition.</p><p>Dahlberg was photographing bobolinks as they returned to the area for the summer when he noticed one bird that looked different from the others.
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Rare half-male, half-female bird spotted at suburban Chicago preserve
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times