Why Are Cardinals Losing Their Head Feathers?
While this may look like the bird is sick, a cardinal missing head feathers is typically not a cause for concern.
The Northern Cardinal
When you think of a cardinal, the image that pops into your head is probably of a striking red bird with a black mask. These gorgeous birds are the male cardinals, and it's interesting because the females look quite different.
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According to the Indiana DNR, a female cardinal has a much more muted color and is sometimes a brownish/red.
The adult male is all red except for the black mask at the base of the bill. The markings of the female are much more subdued. She has an olive-gray back, dull red-dish wings and crest, and soft pink-brown underparts. A stout, coral-red bill and dark red feet are also common markings of both the female and male. Immature cardinals wear a plumage even browner and duller than an adult female.
Cardinals are a fan favorite, and a welcome sight at people's birdfeeders because people love seeing these bright colored birds.
However, recently, some folks have noticed an alarming sight at their bird feeders: cardinals with no feathers on their heads. What is happening, and is it a cause for concern?
Cardinals Missing Head Feathers
Lately, there have been a few viral posts on social media pointing out cardinals missing feathers on their head, and to be honest, it is quite a jarring sight. However, if you notice a bald cardinal, the good news is that it's rarely a cause for concern and is typically caused by molting.
According to For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue, late summer and into early fall is typically when birds begin to molt, and for birds like cardinals, that means dropping any feathers that aren't important for flight. Sometimes this means the bird will lose all of their head feathers at once.
The good news is, this isn't typically a cause for concern, and For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue says unless you notice mites, scabs, or sores on the bird, the bird is probably fine and just molting.
Cardinals and blue jays are the most common birds affected by this bizarre-looking phenomenon. The change of seasons naturally triggers birds to molt, and for many, the head feathers— which aren’t necessary for flight— will drop all at once. After a few days, the bird’s winter-ready plumage will fill in the gaps.
Most of the time, bald birds don’t need any help, but there are times a call to a rehabilitator may be in order. If mites, infection, or injury are to blame, you may see scabs or sores. If something is wrong, there may also be a massive loss of feathers on other parts of the body, causing the bird to be unable to fly properly. If something seems amiss, please give your local bird rehabilitators a call or text and they may be able to help.
As long as the weird-looking cardinal in your neighborhood shows no other worrisome symptoms, just enjoy watching this interesting seasonal change!
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Gallery Credit: Charlotte Barnett
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