by Kat W.
Member since:
September 19, 2008

Bald Cardinals: What Happened?

August 04, 2009 12:23 PM EDT
views: 115 | comments: 52

There are two males and two female cardinals that I believe hatched early this spring.  All four are bald.  The cardinals that hatched later in the spring not bald.  Does anyone know what might have caused this and why it seems to be selective to this one batch of cardinals?

 
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Comments: 52

☃ Aunt Shanny Aug 4, 2009, 12:25pm EDT
Wow! He looks roughed up!
Kat W. Aug 4, 2009, 12:28pm EDT
They look like alien cardinals, poor things.
Sandra H. Aug 4, 2009, 12:30pm EDT
OMGosh! That poor bird! I don't have a clue what would cause that!
Peter Joseph Swanson Aug 4, 2009, 12:31pm EDT
Eeeeeeekkkkk !!!
Cynthia J. Aug 4, 2009, 12:33pm EDT
Wow, that's just wierd. Never seen one like that before. Poor guy.
perchance a gentic mutation do to all the fab chemicals and pollutants running into our water supply and stuff like that~just guessing here~or maybe its birdpatternbaldness gone wild~ =O
carolyn b. Aug 4, 2009, 12:36pm EDT
Wow, poor thing, I can't help you on this one
Carol B Aug 4, 2009, 12:52pm EDT
Awww, poor little things. Maybe their momma plucked them for some reason. Or maybe their dad was bald and it is a generic thing, lol. Sorry I shouldn't be making fun of the poor birds.
The Unnameable Aug 4, 2009, 12:59pm EDT
http://www.birdchick.com/wp/2007/08/bald-cardinals-and-other-bald-birds/
Carol B Aug 4, 2009, 3:26pm EDT
Interesting story on the bald cardinals. I guess it is more common than I thought.
Janet "Jax" B. Aug 4, 2009, 1:18pm EDT
Boy, that one does look bad....yikes! The poor thing.
Pam H. Aug 4, 2009, 1:37pm EDT
Kind of sad. Reminds me of the ugly duckling story.
George Shaw Aug 4, 2009, 1:38pm EDT
Maybe they committed a cardinal sin. LOL
Lee P. Aug 4, 2009, 10:15pm EDT
Very funny George, you made me laugh while I was feeling sorry for those poor little bald birds. LOL
George Shaw Aug 4, 2009, 10:25pm EDT
Good, Leo, we have to laugh once in awhile to keep from crying.
George Shaw Aug 5, 2009, 8:26pm EDT
Thank you Renda, I am glad you enjoyed my humor. LOL
Pam S. Aug 4, 2009, 1:45pm EDT
I don't have a clue, but that is weird.
George Shaw Aug 5, 2009, 8:27pm EDT
Pam, as I said above, maybe they committed a cardinal sin. lol
Michelle S. Aug 4, 2009, 1:50pm EDT
wonder if momma & dad are related? no idea why that might happen. :)
DesertDarlene L. Aug 4, 2009, 3:02pm EDT
Interesting. It's probably just a genetic anomaly. It happens from time to time.
Gul Dixon Aug 4, 2009, 3:05pm EDT
Oh the poor thing! I wonder what happened to him!
Kim B. Aug 4, 2009, 3:05pm EDT
Yikes! Looks like chicken do when they moult. I have not a clue though. The birds around here are full of mites, but they haven't lost any of their feathers.
That is horrible....I'd call the County Extension Office (found in the phone book in the white pages or County office pages..sometimes it's in association with an University) or the Audubon society and ask what causes it and to warn them that birds have been spotted with this condition, ... It can't be good
Marilyn M. Aug 4, 2009, 3:51pm EDT
How very sad... I wonder if it'll grow in later. You'll have to keep us posted.
phil w. Aug 4, 2009, 4:22pm EDT
I've heard of heavy molts before ,but this is pitiful .
Rhonda M. Aug 4, 2009, 4:26pm EDT
That is so strange...never seen that before!
~♥~ Kim ~♥~ Aug 4, 2009, 4:39pm EDT
How very weird. Great link The Unnameable. I've never seen anything like this before. Very sad looking birdie.
Marianne R. Aug 4, 2009, 5:18pm EDT
No idea. Can birds get mange?
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Aug 4, 2009, 5:20pm EDT
How sad, never heard of anything like this.

Thanks so much for sharing with my group.
Bundy P Aug 4, 2009, 6:39pm EDT
OMG!!!
Lee P. Aug 4, 2009, 10:16pm EDT
Poor little birdies, they look so awful. I haven't got a clue what could have happened to them.
Lisa C. Aug 4, 2009, 10:18pm EDT
Awww..... Poor little guy!
M & M. Aug 4, 2009, 11:39pm EDT
It could be moulting, or mites.
Tory H. Aug 5, 2009, 10:29am EDT
Eek! Poor thing.
Rose H. Aug 5, 2009, 1:25pm EDT
Poor thing - looks alien, scary.
Renita P. Aug 5, 2009, 4:42pm EDT
poor little thing does look scary! I saw a news story once about some bird disease that caused this in another bird. Wonder if that's the case ???
It is sad, he looks terrible. I did have to laugh at George's comment above though. I have been in touch with a very nice lady that works at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology about past questions and she was very helpful. Maybe you can send your photo and question to her. Her name is Anne and you can reach her at: http://www.birds.cornell.edu
Sue M. Aug 5, 2009, 8:54pm EDT
Kat, No one knows for sure, even Cornell Lab of Ornithology admits that the case of the bald cardinal is not well studied. There are two possible explanations. Number one, this is the time of year when many songbirds (including cardinals and blue jays) are molting (shedding old feathers and growing in new feathers). For some reason, the birds drop all of their feathers on their heads at once. I’ve seen this with captive birds like great horned owls and even our education screech owl at The Raptor Center. The birds are healthy, they just molt everything at once. Google "bald cardinals" and you can see other photos of this.
that's a relief...to know that it's a natural occurrence...
Sue M. Aug 5, 2009, 8:55pm EDT
I'd love for you to post this photo essay to *My Bird Shots*
Sheila Deeth Aug 5, 2009, 11:48pm EDT
Poor little things, but glad to know the feathers will grow back.
Lee P. Aug 6, 2009, 3:28am EDT
Hi Kat. I’m doing a mass hello to everyone on my friends list.

“Hello”, my name is Lee P. You are my friend and I’m just stopping by to say hello. I hope that today will be your best day yet and that all your tomorrows will be filled with joy and happiness.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977764200
Amy H. Aug 6, 2009, 4:18pm EDT
wow, I will have to read the link someone left later.
Donald M. Aug 6, 2009, 10:39pm EDT
Nothing like any I have ever seen.
Sandra L. Aug 7, 2009, 12:02am EDT
That looks so unnatural. The poor thing. I wonder if he flies very well.
Courtney C. Aug 7, 2009, 8:22am EDT
Poor thing looks kinda creepy!
Kelly M. Aug 7, 2009, 7:59pm EDT
That is odd..
lynn a. Aug 9, 2009, 10:10pm EDT
Cant remember ever seeing a bald birth with the exception of just being hatched. I hope the birds don't mind. Am going to click into the link and read the information about it though.
Beth G. Aug 18, 2009, 9:21pm EDT
That is pretty odd, I wish I knew what to tell you!
Chelle M. Aug 28, 2009, 2:56pm EDT
Interesting. Never seen one like that before.

This comment is to let you know that this content has reached at least ten comments, and as such has been removed from Comment Speedway! Congratulations!
Ruthi C. Sep 1, 2009, 7:58pm EDT
DITTO what PJS had to say! And George!

Added to those comments, I guess I'll tell you what a great capture!

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