A Pennsylvania wildlife center, Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, has welcomed two rare albino cardinals into its care. The first cardinal, named "Frosty," was admitted in July after being found injured in a box under a car. The center posted on Facebook that they were surprised to discover it was an albino cardinal, noting that the chances of encountering one are extremely low. According to the center, the likelihood of seeing an albino cardinal is about 1 in 30,000, with true albino cardinals being even rarer due to the complete lack of pigmentation.
The center later admitted a second albino cardinal, which was unnamed, but unfortunately, it died from a severe ear infection despite the team's efforts. The center expressed their surprise at having two albino cardinals, stating, "Not only is it rare to see one albino cardinal, but we also admitted a second albino cardinal; we couldn’t believe that now we had two!"
Albino cardinals face significant survival challenges due to their conspicuous coloring, making them more vulnerable to predators. Male cardinals typically have bright red plumage, while females are a pale brown with hints of red. In contrast, albino cardinals lack melanin, resulting in white feathers and reddish eyes, which can lead to poor vision.
Frosty is reportedly doing well and has developed a distinct personality. The facility mentioned that he will need to remain in captivity, as his chances of survival in the wild are slim. Raven Ridge Wildlife Center noted that Frosty is starting to molt and is showing more color in different areas, and they expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with this unique cardinal.