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.
Sometimes you just have a Bad Feather Day.
I am always amazed when I see birds in mid-molt flying around quite happily with half their feathers gone... I was always under the impression that a tail was neccesary to a bird for control, but don't tell that to the local sparrows!
This isn't a molt (probably) but it's a startling state of plumage for a cardinal nonetheless: bald cardinal
Holey Moley! I saw your bald cardinal photos. Do you think the Bosley system advertized on cable TV could help this fellow? Wow.
theres a cardinal who comes to my feeder out back, with a severe molt, he has no feathers on his little head, I call him my lil red baldy,
can anyone tell me why this happens to them? is it like old age or something, or do they get a new coat?
I'm not sure, but I think this photo at my backyard feeder is a cardinal in molt.
I forgot to paste in the photo link: http://axg3.com/photos/birds/unk01.jpg