Bird Watching: Daily Bird Pictures volume 458, 1 by nutsaboutnature

nutsaboutnature wrote:
Lots of really great pics since I last posted!

Hack, we usually see at least one Cardinal most years with the feathers missing on part of their head. Here's an interesting article from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that I saved a while ago. It talks about that condition, as well as other unusual feather variations (like leucism) and deformities in birds. The feathers usually grow back eventually.

http://feederwatch.org/learn/unusual-birds/

Even though these guys are common, I never get tired of watching their acrobatics at the feeders.
1-3, Juvie male Downy Woodpecker.