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Re: Bald Cardinal
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Re: Bald Cardinal
- From: Norman Budnitz <nbudnitz@duke.edu>
- Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 09:29:47 -0400
- In-reply-to: <12e.6fa55b.2865e5ac@aol.com>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
At 08:29 AM 6/23/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>We have a Cardinal visiting our feeder. It is a male with bright colors and
>full size but the head is completely bald and black. The body feathers are
>full color and stop at the neck like a "thick robe." The beak and body are
>all normal looking with the exception of the lack of any feathers on the head.
>
>We would appreciate comments re illness, late development, rare, and any
>other thoughts. Will the feathers eventually grow??
Fear not. Each year at about this time, there is a spate of messages on
Carolinabirds reporting bald Cardinals. Just remember: when they're
moltin,' they're revoltin.' For some reason, many Cardinals seem to molt
their head feathers all at once, rather than gradually. I suspect you will
see your bird in all his full finery fairly soon.
Norm
***********************************************************
Norman Budnitz, nbudnitz@duke.edu
919-684-3592 (day), 919-383-0553 (eve),919-660-7293 (fax)
(work) Biology Dept, Duke Univ, Box 90338, Durham NC 27708
(home) 4115 Garrett Drive, Durham NC 27705
PROGRESS: the victory of laughter over dogma.
(Tom Robbins, Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas)