Now this is what I call a bad hair day!
I saw this poor guy at my feeders yesterday.
A male Northern Cardinal in molt.
Because feathers wear out, birds molt old ones once or twice a year, usually in late summer and early fall, and grow new replacements. When it comes to molting, there are a lot of "except for the exceptions." A cardinal or blue jay may molt its head feathers all at once instead of gradually. But why?
Many people think birds may lose all of their head feathers because of an infestation of lice or mites. Others believe it is due to a nutritional deficiency. I also read that losing head feathers during the post-nuptial molt (after nesting is over), is a normal process in some
species including Cardinals, Blue Jays and Common Grackles
David Bonter with Project FeederWatch, says "Birds molt at different times and in different ways. There are some general patterns in terms of which feathers are replaced at which time of the year and in which order. In reality, however, there’s an incredible amount of variability in molt patterns, even within the same sex or age class of birds within a species at the same time of the year.”
Not to worry,
in a couple of weeks he will be as handsome as this fellow I'm sure!
sharing with...
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Poor guy. Hope he'll be handsome again soon.
ReplyDeleteThats not a good look!
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance for the WBW link - I've not even sorted out this weeks pictures yet!!!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
And in the meantime, he is a sad and sorry sight. A naked bird does look soooo naked...
ReplyDeleteO this is quite sad! Poor little guy! May he find his beautiful feathers soon! Yet his tail seems OK!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's amazing. I have cardinals around my house and have never seen them in the molting stage. By the way... excellent photos.
ReplyDeleteWow great shots and information. Looks like a no hair day:) B
ReplyDeleteHi! Nice shots. The last one is stunning beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. I think birds are so fun when they are having a bad hair moment.
ReplyDeleteOMG.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a balding molting bird - and that DOES look like a vulture.
I had no idea of any of this.
You got an amazing shot, well done.
Thanks for the learning lesson, too, one I am shocked to learn! (blush)
What a tuching story.Hope he gets beter!
ReplyDeleteWow, I thought that was a different species altogether! Poor fella. I appreciate all the info along with the beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteA bad, no-feather day it is, but what great captures! Interesting information! I've never seen a balding bird and WOW what a difference feathers make! But I guess they say the same thing about balding humans!!!
ReplyDeletethey really do look absolutely pitiful when they're like this! never good to see a bird's ears. :)
ReplyDeleteTalk about your male baldness! :) Interesting photos and facts. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHm. I saw cardinals this morning in my backyard - they looked a bit different than those I see in winter. I wonder if they were molting? Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, bad hair day indeed!
ReplyDeletePoor fella.
Believe it or not, this happens during nest building.
Mom "usues" Dad's head feathers (and many times, chest feathers) to help "feather" the nest!
Karen! I had absolutely no idea about this. At first I thought you had a new and different bird. Thanks for the information and I do hope he gets his handsomeness back soon.
ReplyDeleteWe had a bald cardinal last year. It is a strange looking critter!
ReplyDeletePoor fellow...
ReplyDeleteI saw an Oriole that was going into molt and it's not a pretty sight either. But this Cardinal needs to see a stylist. [kidding]
What an unusual example of a Cardinal, interesting shot though.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Gordon.
A great seie of photos!
ReplyDeleteEven a handsome guy looks pretty bad when he's molting, eh?
ReplyDeleteHeisann!
ReplyDeleteI must admit: Not all birds attract me..., but most of them do ;:OD)
They always look so upset in molt. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting photos and info. He certainly does look scraggly!
ReplyDeletePoor thing, it does look sad looking. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteGreat series of images. Yes, he does look like he is having a terrible feather day!
ReplyDeleteOh Dear, he almost looks like a red vulture! I've never seen anything like it. Interesting post, and great shots.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these shots Karen. I've never seen one look like this.
ReplyDeleteHe does look a little worse for wear at the moment.
I always feel badly for these proud birds when they are head-bare due to molt...I hope they don't know. LOL.. Michelle
ReplyDeleteI think he is very unique looking anyway! Beautiful guy..
ReplyDeleteGreat close ups Karen, so many pretty details.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this interesting information, I didn't know most of this and it's neat that their feathers grow back so quickly!!
Glad to hear he will get some more feathers, beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteoh Gawddddd... what a tragic sight!!! *LOL*
ReplyDeletepoor fellow, good thing you dont provide mirrors along with the birdfeeders! *ROFL*
you have ato feel sorry for him even if it is natural. Great shot.
ReplyDeleteHe's getting some good nutrition at your feeder Karen so hopefully he'll be back to normal and as handsome as ever soon. I think your picture reminds us how birds are realted to reptiles. Super shots and information.
ReplyDeletePoor fella. Truly a bad hair day.
ReplyDeletehand-painted fan
Bad hair, no hair, whatever you call it I hope he gets to looking better soon!
ReplyDeleteGlad to know it was molting, initially I thought it was sick! Beautiful pictures though!
ReplyDeletePoor fellow1 Bad hair day indeed.
ReplyDeleteWell, that looked a bit weird! Poor bird!
ReplyDeleteWe rang the police about a week ago and they came and talked to some of the illegal fishermen.
Greetings Pia
So glad you explained this procedure. The first time I saw a cardinal doing this, I thought it was a freak of nature!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen....does look humiliating for the poor beauty that they usually are!!
ReplyDeleteStrangely as long as I have been bird watching , which is in many years ; )
I have never seen a bird in molt even with them coming to the feeders!!
Interesting post..thanks for the info!!
Grace
Life cycles... the ups and downs of the beauty therapist
ReplyDeleteGreat post
Most birds hide away during their post breeding moult. I guess he will not have many friends for a while.
ReplyDeleteGood it could find some food to eat. Great capture. When full with feathers they must be looking good.
ReplyDeleteWow, I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteHe's a handsome brute.
ReplyDeleteOMG!! Handsome brut...NOT!
ReplyDeleteInteresting series.
ReplyDelete