Biologists at the Zealandia eco-sanctuary in New
Zealand have spotted a bellbird that exhibits features and behaviour of both male
and female members of the species.
The bird hatched in early 2011, and DNA testing
then showed it as female, but since then its development has been rather
different to normal female bellbirds.
Normally, female bellbirds have a white feather
pattern but the chick bean to show signs of the dark plumage normally seen on
male birds. It also began to behave in a masculine way, not flitting between
flowers like a female bellbird but instead moving with purpose, ready to defend
its territory.
The bird’s calls are unusual too. It makes both
male calls and the distinctive “chup chup” normally heard from females, but the
latter are louder and more frequent that is normal.
Zealandia conservation officer Erin Jeneway told
New Zealand’s Dominion Post, “There’s something we can’t pin down. We
haven’t seen anything like this before.”
Victoria University biologist Ben Bell told the Post,
“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’s not the first transgendered bird to be
found. Both transgendered and homosexual birds have been documented before. But
it’s the first time the trait has been seen in New Zealand bellbirds.
Source: Wired.co.uk
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