30Jun/08Off
Dude, Where Are Your Feathers?
Yesterday, the geekboy spotted a weird-looking bird in the yard. He had a red body but a grey head. I took a bunch of photos, trying to figure out what kind of bird it was. I looked in my books, online, couldn’t find anything. Then I looked at the photos more closely. And realized the bird was just a regular cardinal. Who had NO FEATHERS on his HEAD.
I did some research, and it appears he’s molting. I have NEVER seen this before! You really don’t think much about birds evolving from dinosaurs until you spot one like this.
Click through to see bigger versions.
Bonus photo of a squirrel lying on his tummy trying to cool off.
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June 30th, 2008 - 09:00
The two little feathers on top of his head make him look very punk rock.
June 30th, 2008 - 09:13
I know, right?
June 30th, 2008 - 09:41
If you want to read up on this more:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/p.....dBirds.htm
Ps. I think you should totally sign up for Project Feederwatch this winter. It’s a great project (and I used to work for the organization who manages the Canadian data).
June 30th, 2008 - 09:41
I find him kinda creepy. The squirrel is cute!
June 30th, 2008 - 09:51
I am reminded of Kathy Griffin’s excellent adventure in Tracy CA. “Oh my god did it shed?” Seriously, who gives a comic a chicken?
That squirrel is adorable.
June 30th, 2008 - 09:53
Seriously, who gives a comic a chicken?
I know — that was so bizarre!
June 30th, 2008 - 09:59
Is he okay.healthy? Now I’m all worried about him!
June 30th, 2008 - 10:03
Yep, molting is a normal process. They will grow back. It could also be mites, but even if it is, he’ll still be fine — the feathers will grow back after the mites are gone.
I was worried, too, but if you google “bald cardinal” you’ll see it’s very normal.
June 30th, 2008 - 10:08
The potential for topless religious person images on that search frightens me.
June 30th, 2008 - 10:10
Poor guy! Nonetheless…I’m a bit creeped out. However the squirrel revived me. I really think squirrels are adorable. Does that make me weird?
June 30th, 2008 - 10:27
they are cute until they are stuck halfway down on the inside of a hall and desperately scratching to get out, about 6 inches away from where you liked to sit while relaxing after a hard day. the scratching scared the hell out of me, then became annoying and worrysome, then so very sad. until, after several days, the sound stopped.
sorry to bring everyone down.
June 30th, 2008 - 11:05
That’s awful. Why couldn’t someone get him out?
Megan, I think squirrels are cute, too.
June 30th, 2008 - 11:07
bald cardinal = freaky muppet
the squirrel is adorable, though!
June 30th, 2008 - 11:46
That’s so great that you think squirrels are cute. I think more along the lines of Carrie Bradshaw… what was her quote? Something like “Rats with a better wardrobe.”
June 30th, 2008 - 13:11
Forget cardinal… that bird looks more like the pope.
June 30th, 2008 - 14:48
awww, someone put Nair in his shampoo bottle. I hate it when that happens.
June 30th, 2008 - 16:09
http://www.sugarbushsquirrel.com/
June 30th, 2008 - 17:11
No. Just … no. Bad Chips!
June 30th, 2008 - 17:29
oh, for the love of god.
June 30th, 2008 - 23:31
who would have known??
July 1st, 2008 - 12:07
Wow that is crazy looking! Kinda rooster-ish. And that squirrel! What a show-off.
August 7th, 2008 - 09:20
All our cardinals look bad too! I just thought the neighborhood cat got to them. But I have about 8 of them and they all look bald! My mom didn’t believe when I told her. I’m orginally from the north where the cardinals always look fine. Is this from Texas heat?
August 7th, 2008 - 09:37
We’re in the northeast and it happened to our cardinal. Apparently they molt. This is the first time I’ve ever seen one in the process of molting, though.
August 7th, 2008 - 10:54
Hey Twin!
My cardinal did the same thing up here in Rhode Island- thought something was wrong with him too. I think it’s global warming to tell you the truth….. cuz I’ve been watching birds since I was really young and never saw this, “Molting” before.
luv,
ya sista!