Zealandia home to first transgender bellbird

[Shana A]

Zealandia home to first transgender bellbird
MATT STEWART
ENVIRONMENT REPORTER
Last updated 12:03 11/10/2012
   
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington-central/7802502/Zealandia-home-to-first-transgender-korimako   

Zealandia could be home to New Zealand's first transgender korimako, dubbed the ''butch bellbird''.

Staff at Karori's Zealandia eco-sanctuary use the nickname because the young bellbird has DNA tested as female but acts like a male, and has a mix of each sex's plumage.

Victoria University moult expert Ben Bell was intrigued to hear about the bird's plumage.

"It could be due to a hormonal imbalance or it could be a reaction to shock or an incomplete moult - given the appearance and behaviour, any of those would be unusual though."

It is the first species Zealandia staff have seen showing the unusual gender mix.

[Shana A]

Fri Oct 12, 2012 at 04:00 PM PDT
Transgender(?) Bird Observed in New Zealand
by rserven

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/12/1143530/-Transgender-Bird-Observed-in-New-Zealand

What is being described as the first known transgender korimako (New Zealand bellbird) has been observed at the eco-sanctuary Zealandia (and perhaps the first ever known transgender bird).  Staff have taken to referring to the bird as the "butch bellbird."

The photo to the left is of a male korimako. 

The bird has had its DNA tested when it was a chick and has been classified as female, but the bird acts like a male bellbird and has a mix of plumage usually attributed to each sex.  Males are olive green with a dark purplish sheen on their head and black outer wing and tail. While females are a duller olive brown with a blue sheen on the head and yellowish-white stripe curving from the base of the bill to below the eye.

Now 18 months old, the bird has the typical white cheek stripe on one side, but the dark body plumage of a male.