A different looking male cardinal - Update

That was an interesting read, Gail. Thanks for your research.

 

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing!

 

I just put a photo of a balding Cardinal on my garden page. I am not sure I get how to paste it to this forum.

 

I have copied the response from Anne at the Cornell Lab:

" Thanks so much for sending both photos. I showed them to our science editor, Laura Erickson, who has been a wildlife rehabilitator for many years. She says it looks like the bird might have sustained an injury and, in the first photo, the head was swollen which prompted the loss of the feathers easily seen in the second photo. It could also be that the bird has a really bad case of parasites which are causing both. Only a trained rehabilitator who had the bird in hand could tell you exactly what was going on under the feathers. If the bird is continuing to feed itself and behave "normally", then I guess my only recommendation would be to bring your feeders in and disinfect them with a 10% bleach solution, washing carefully with hot, soapy water afterwards, and drying thoroughly before putting back out again. That's just in case we're talking about parasites. If the bird begins to fail, you could contact a rehabber to see if they'd be willing to take over. Sorry. It may not be pleasant watching how this develops. If you continue to document the changes, I'd be happy to continue to see what goes on with the bird. "

I will take her advice and clean my feeders and keep a watch out for him.

 

Here is the photo of a poor, bald headed Cardinal my friend saw in his yard. He doesn't really look unhappy, but maybe a little embarrassed.


Bald Cardinal ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

 

I wonder if he may have flown into a window. That often happens here, and mostly they fly away un hurt, but sometimes not. I have found feathers on the glass from time to time.

 

This is interesting research. I sure do hope your cardinal fares OK... Poor guy. Do keep updating us.

 

We were gone over the weekend but I took this photo just before we left. He continues to loose feathers. Next time I can get a good photo I will send an update to Anne at Cornell


cardinal update ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

 

Oh gosh, I was thinking about him yesterday... Good that it willbe getting warmer -- his head would be cold otherwise.

 

Poor guy I hope he gets better!

 

It is sad to see such a proud bird loosing his plumage. I wonder if these mites (if that's what they are) spread to other parts of his anatomy, or remain located exclusively on his head.

 

I hate to see that on my favorite bird....poor thing, I hope things get better for him.

I always clean my feeders once a month or if we had a lot of rain more often...Of course it really doesn't do any good if all of the bird feeders where the bird feeds aren't cleaned. Hard to get your neighbors involved at times.. I use a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water also.

 

Usually cardinals, Blue jays and other birds shed head feathers in the summer and it seems to be a mite or lice issue. For this to happen this time of year seems odd.

Color is everything to many species of birds and for cardinals, the brighter the better and more dominant the male will be.

You said he seems to show dominance at the feeders and that is a sign of a healthy bird.

He gets to feed, gets the best territory and so on.

I have a couple of beautiful males this winter as well.

I might add. It takes a good 2 to 3 years for many species of birds to get their true male colors and markings.

Hopefully Cornell will come through for you as to the bald head.

Juveniles should have molted into adult colors by now and even before the first molt, they will look much like a female, with a gray colored bill and legs.

Hope this helps some.

He is a pretty red and may have eaten more goodies too.

Ron

 

I appreciate all of your comments and concerns regarding my cardinal. I was away for a few days and I did not see him today. I usually see him once or twice a day, will keep you posted.