Posted by tags: Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, birds, Central Park, Image of the Day
The results of the Most Explosive Northern Cardinal Molt of 2008 in Central Park are in. Papa Museum wins the competition hands, er, feathers down.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George [larger].
The photographer, Bob Levy, writes;
Note: No cardinals were injured in this competition. Hey, I know he looks like an explosion in a mattress factory but it is a “natural” occurrence.
Also Note: There wasn’t a large number of competitors. Actually, it only included the six males I regularly observe but that does not detract from the arresting state of this fellow’s plumage does it?
And One Note More: Last year was first time I noticed a molting cardinal undergoing such a dramatic molt. That bird was Papa Meadow who held a different territory than this year’s winner. At the time I thought it must be a predisposition of that particular bird but now that I have found another male that has exhibited a similar trait I guess it’s more common than I assumed. It’s possible that last years male changed his territory but I doubt it. I have not read a description of a bird like this elsewhere. I wonder if this condition could be limited to this specific Central Park population? Hmm. Could you let me know if you have observed a Northern Cardinal in a similarly “explosive” state at this time of year.
August 28, 2008
August 28, 2008
August 28, 2008
August 30, 2008
August 5, 2009
May 24, 2010
