Title: Welcome Wildlife
Post by: Donna on 05-Jul-12, 09:03:43 PM
Seen any baldheaded birds lately? It’s the time of year when some NORTHERN CARDINALS and BLUE JAYS display the shape of their skull and their ear holes. Scientists aren’t sure just why. It could be environmental, nutritional or from feather mites or lice. The majority seem to think that some birds just lose all their head feathers at once while molting. Usually feathers are lost and replaced a few at a time.
:o
:oTitle: Re: Welcome Wildlife
Post by: MAK on 06-Jul-12, 07:37:40 AM
:o Never saw a cardinal without it's head feathers. Shocking! :heart:
Title: Re: Welcome Wildlife
Post by: BIGFRANK on 06-Jul-12, 07:52:20 AM
A friend sent me a pic of a similar looking Cardinal. I have seen Blue Jays like this in the past. Here is an article. Its fairly common apparently. http://benburtt.blogspot.ca/2004/02/bald-headed-cardinals-and-blue-jays-in.html?m=1 (http://benburtt.blogspot.ca/2004/02/bald-headed-cardinals-and-blue-jays-in.html?m=1)
Title: Re: Welcome Wildlife
Post by: Donna on 06-Jul-12, 08:05:58 AM
A friend sent me a pic of a similar looking Cardinal. I have seen Blue Jays like this in the past. Here is an article. Its fairly common apparently. http://benburtt.blogspot.ca/2004/02/bald-headed-cardinals-and-blue-jays-in.html?m=1 (http://benburtt.blogspot.ca/2004/02/bald-headed-cardinals-and-blue-jays-in.html?m=1)
Interesting stuff, thanks BF! How ya feeling, back on your feet?