Birds Gone Bald

Spring and songbirds go hand in hand.  Choosing a mate, gathering nesting materials and laying eggs, they are all a pleasure to see and hear, and Cardinals are especially beautiful.

I believe it was last fall when I first saw one.  A bird that looked like a scary, prehistoric creature, sitting on my bird feeder.

This Cardinal was beginning to look a little strange around his beak and eyes.

And then this one shows up and he is completely bald.  They are bizarre looking and I couldn't help but wonder what was happening or if they might be sick?  

I did a little research and learned through Cornell Lab of Ornithology that this most often happens with Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals.  Thankfully they aren't sick - they're just molting!

Molting is a normal process for birds, some birds just molt in more abnormal ways.  Molting is where a bird's feathers slowly fall out and new feathers slowly grow in.  Occasionally birds will lose all their feathers which results in these strange bald-headed birds.  Most birds have only one full molt per year but there are a few that have two.

Did you know that feathers, like human hair and nails, are non-living structures?  Molting is the way in which birds replace old and possibly damaged feathers, since they are "dead" and can't repair themselves.  I found this interesting as I had never even thought about it and figured when I found feathers on the ground it was most likely due to one bird attacking another.  

This one looks as if he is striking a pose.

I also learned that baldness may be a result from feather mites, lice, or an environmental or nutritional factor.  In these cases, there is evidence of growths or a scabby coating on the skin.  For example, Northern Cardinals have black skin, and a different color skin on the head would indicate an ailment.

I'm not sure if this is a Northern Cardinal?  If so his head should be black unless he has an ailment as mentioned above.  If it is an ailment, I wish I could help him.  All I can do is continue to provide quality birdseed and water, and that I will do!

Did you notice the cardinal's ears in the photos above?

Now this is more like it.  Full and fluffy red feathered Cardinals; they are so beautiful.

Have you ever seen strange looking birds at your feeders?

Hop on over for Amaze Me Monday...

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