A RARE BIRD INDEED

What luck! Yesterday, I was in the right place at the right time photographing this cardinal. I didn't think he was molting: too early in the season and pictures I have seen, they tend to molt heavily top down. So, I sent my images to MSU Extension and here was their reply:

Dear Jeff, here's the response to your question:

Hello and thanks for your inquiry. This is a rare and great sighting! It looks like you spotted a "partially leucistic" male northern cardinal. The link below provides more information on variations of this trait and explains other types of abnormal colorations observed in cardinals.

https://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/08/abnormal-coloration-in-birds-melanin-reduction/

"This is probably the most commonly seen plumage abnormality in wild birds. This mutation is extremely variable in appearance, as birds can have just a few white feathers scattered on any part of the body, or whole sections of the body white, or the entire body white (fully leucistic, above). The white feathers are often grouped in feather tracts, so that most of the head is white (as shown here), or some of the wing coverts are white, or most of the tail, etc."

Very cool!