11 Oct 2012

Transgender bird discovered at sanctuary

9:24 pm on 11 October 2012

A Wellington eco-sanctuary is home to a transgender bellbird - possibly the only one of its kind.

Staff at Zealandia are using the nick-name - 'butch bellbird' - to describe the bird which has female DNA but acts like a male.

The 18-month-old bird also has both male and female plumage, acts like a male when feeding and makes the calls of both sexes.