Eyes on the Rare: A Striking Yellow Cardinal Captivates St. Louis Birdwatchers

The day following Christmas, Taka Yanagimoto, the director of photography for the St. Louis Cardinals, encountered a cardinal of a unique kind in his yard: a male with an uncommon mutation that results in yellow feathers rather than red.

“I slid open the door in our sunroom and sat quietly. He was around 10 feet away, and he approached, craning his neck to examine me with curiosity,” he remarked.

Since then, Yanagimoto has taken pictures of the bird — whom he has affectionately named “Ray” — daily.

“It’s not an uncommon species, but it is an unusual condition termed xanthism,” remarked St. Louis Audubon Society board member Bill Rowe. “It’s caused by a [genetic] mutation. I’ve [also] seen Cardinals like this that are partially white and partially red resembling peppermint candy.”

During Tuesday’s St. Louis on the Air, Rowe and fellow birdwatcher Ben Koenig talked about the 125th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the growing popularity of birdwatching, and provided advice for observing birds in the St. Louis area.

“Frigid weather can attract some truly fascinating birds from significantly farther north. Rare gulls may appear at Riverlands during such times. These sightings are unique to these moments,” Rowe noted. “Snow-covered bluebirds provide a stark contrast to the bluebirds seen in spring. The robins as well — their hues stand out much more vividly than during warmer seasons.”

Hear the complete discussion — which includes an interview with Taka Yanagimoto discussing Ray the yellow cardinal — on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or by clicking the play button below.

Related Event
What: Bird walks with St. Louis Audubon
When: Saturdays throughout the month (check the calendar for specifics)
Where: Various sites including Forest Park, Riverlands, and August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area

“St. Louis on the Air” presents narratives about St. Louis and its residents who live, work, and create in our community. The show is produced by Miya Norfleet, Emily Woodbury, Danny Wicentowski, Elaine Cha and Alex Heuer. Jada Jones is our production assistant. The sound engineer is Aaron Doerr.