Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Rachell Wurstner | Photos by Jeremy Black 

In 2018, a rare male northern cardinal appeared in Alabaster flaunting a genetic mutation of yellow feathers and coloring as opposed to the typical red hue. This bird, nicknamed “Mr. Yellow,” gained global attention from nature magazines, conservation organizations, birdwatching publications and university research groups, among others.

Mr. Yellow commanded local fascination, and the sighting urged many residents to keep an eye on their own bird feeders for other genetic anomalies. The unique cardinal was last seen in December of 2019.

Now, almost five years later, another rare northern cardinal with yellow pigmentation has been spotted in Helena less than 15 miles from the location where the famed Mr. Yellow was originally discovered.

“May 7, 2024, was my first sighting,” said the property owner who requests to remain anonymous.

“The feeling was excitement because I knew what and how rare he was. I was also astonished in knowing he was in our backyard of all places! We named this special cardinal Maize because of his coloring. It seemed to fit! We are appreciative and thankful to be facilitators of God’s unique creation and the habitat He created.”

Jeremy Black, the photographer who initially captured Mr. Yellow in 2018, was able to photograph the new yellow cardinal “Maize.”

Concerning Black’s professional background, he shared, “I am a dedicated photographer with a profound focus in capturing the essence of wildlife, nature, and the unique character of individuals through my lens. With a decade of experience in photography, my favorite subject to document is wildlife. I have always cherished the remarkable diversity our world presents. Along my journey, I have volunteered with The Birmingham Zoo and Alabama Wildlife Center. My aspiration is to document endangered and rare species.”

Black reflected on the mainstream interest in Mr. Yellow from years past.

“In 2018, when Mr. Yellow, the northern cardinal with yellow plumage from Alabaster, went viral, my work gained international recognition through various platforms and organizations,” Black said. “Among them, National Geographic, the organization that had always been the embodiment of my childhood dreams, featured my portraits globally. This accomplishment was beyond anything I had ever imagined. I felt immense pride and gratitude for the opportunity, which eventually led to my portraiture being featured in their publication, ‘Birding Basics’ by Noah Strycker.”

The homeowner of Maize’s domain noted that they saw him only once before publicizing the news.

“We’ve seen interest from many local and national organizations,” the homeowners said.

When asked if Maize has received the same level of attention as Mr. Yellow, the property owner said, “No, Mr. Yellow was the first confirmed sighting that gained global recognition. Maybe Maize will be next yellow cardinal to shine worldwide.”

But how does one tell these two yellow cardinals apart?

Since Black has captured both through his lens, he has been able to study their physical differences up close as well as monitoring their contrasting demeanors.

“At first glance, one can discern distinct differences between Mr. Yellow and Maize, particularly in their behaviors,” Black said. “Mr. Yellow, unafraid of people, would boldly announce his presence by singing from the treetops before approaching feeders. Conversely, Maize is more cautious, carefully assessing his surroundings and only venturing forth when the area is quiet.”

In regards to their outward appearances, Black said, “Upon close examination of photographs, we compared various features of both northern cardinals, including their beaks, masks, crowns and any distinctive markings on their talons. Mr. Yellow’s beak exhibits noticeable wear and tear, a testament to his environment, while Maize boasts a pristine beak devoid of any ridges or grooves. Further disparities were evident in the markings on their legs and talons, with Maize displaying longer legs. Additionally, Maize appears younger than Mr. Yellow, as evidenced by certain markings that develop with age in birds.”

Maize shows up on the homeowner’s property often, anywhere from 1 to 4 times per day. When questioned on why Maize seems to be attracted to their yard and feeders, the owner elaborated on the state of their yard.

“There is shelter from our long established hardwood tree canopy, multiple feeders with various foods, accessible fresh water, a safe environment and dozens of other bird species,” the homeowners said. “We use bird food with black oil sunflower seeds, sunflower chips, shelled peanuts, safflower, stripe sunflower and vegetable oil. Also, we have several feeders with no-melt peanut butter suet.”

Black has been thankful to witness two rare yellow cardinals in such close proximity.

“It’s truly surreal; one never anticipates the chance to photograph a rare cardinal, let alone two within the same state, in neighboring cities, only a few years apart,” Black said. “This achievement is one I’ll treasure for a lifetime as it has deeply influenced my greatest passion. My aspiration is to capture the beauty of nature, and having my portraits and these sightings shared with such a wide audience, thus raising awareness in the world of birding, means everything to me.”

Inevitably, one must wonder if Maize has any mates or children.

“We haven’t seen any confirmed signs of a girlfriend, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a possibility,” the homeowners said. “Mr. Yellow found a partner and had offspring during his lifetime. We hope that Maize carries on Mr. Yellow’s legacy, and maybe this won’t be the last yellow northern cardinal spotted in Helena.”

With such unique biodiversity in the area, Black hopes others will take up birding.

“I want to urge residents of Helena and Alabaster to consider adding bird feeders to their residential properties,” Black said. “Adding these elements can unveil a whole new world of wildlife right in your own backyard. Our yards are teeming with diverse bird species just waiting to be discovered.”