Bald-headed
Birds
 
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FeederWatchers report several cases of ‘bald-headed birds,’ mostly Blue Jays and
Northern Cardinals.
One possible explanation for this phenomenon is an abnormal replacement of feathers (molt). Most
bald-headed bird reports occur in summer and fall, which are typical molting times. Many of these strange-looking birds may be juveniles undergoing their first prebasic molt, which produces the first winter adult plumage. For some unknown reason, the bald birds may have dropped all of their head feathers at once. Staggered feather replacement is the normal pattern. |
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Photo by Eddie Eller, Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
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Other cases of
baldness may result from feather mites or lice, or some environmental or nutritional
factor. But no one knows for sure, and the condition has not been well studied. Fortunately, new head feathers grow in within a few weeks.
An interesting article on the topic of bald birds was published in the Buffalo News. You can read it here.
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Photo by Ramona Maria Lauda,
Falls Church, Virginia |
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Above photos by Eddie
Eller, Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
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Photo by Lisa
Barker,
Reston, Virginia |
| This Bald Blue Jay
on the left was observed in July 2000 by Kathy Karjala from the foothills of the Bridger
Mountains near Bozeman, Montana. She reported, "The jay began to grow his head
feathers back, and the last time we saw him, he was developing a nice little crest."
Seeing a Blue Jay in Montana is almost as unusual as seeing a bald bird! |
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