Tuesday, June 24, 2014

That's not a cross between a cardinal and a turkey at your feeder.

This is the time of year when I get inquiries about "bald" birds at feeders. They usually refer to Northern cardinals or blue jays, but some other species can be affected too. The birds are indeed bald, victims of a condition where they drop their head feathering all at once.

The condition is poorly understood, quite common, and fortunately the birds seem to be none the worse for the temporary discomfort. The feathers will eventually grow back.

Maybe it's no discomfort at all. Ever since I dropped all my head covering I have been I have been much cooler in the summer!
Bald cardinal from Feederwatch.org





3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mites or Molt?

Anonymous said...

Nope.... Bird Pattern Baldness.

Anonymous said...

"The condition is poorly understood"
Sadly, you're not helping.