Are There Really White Cardinals in South Dakota?

It looks like a regular Red Cardinal, but it’s almost all white...are these really a “thing” in South Dakota?

The short answer is: extremely rarely, but yes, they do exist.

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White cardinals, known as leucistic Northern Cardinals, have been sighted in South Dakota, including reports in central South Dakota.

These rare birds are not a distinct species, but rather regular cardinals with a genetic mutation that causes white or pale feathers due to a lack of pigment.

Unlike albinism, which affects all pigments, including eyes, leucistic cardinals often retain dark eyes and may show partial coloring.

True white cardinals are exceptionally rare, with experts estimating that only one in every million cardinals displays this trait.

South Dakota and Cardinal Range

Northern cardinals have expanded their range northward over the past century, and South Dakota sits near the northwestern edge of their territory.

This makes encountering any cardinal in South Dakota special and finding a white one would be astronomically unlikely.

Documented Sightings

There have been no widely verified reports of white cardinals in South Dakota, though a handful have been documented across North America in recent years.

These sightings typically generate significant attention from birdwatchers and local news outlets.

What to Watch For

If you spot what appears to be a white cardinal, look for the characteristic crest and thick orange bill.

Take photos if possible, as wildlife agencies are very interested in documenting these rare occurrences.