CLOSED: Hooded Cardinal

Has anyone ever seen a red bird or cardinal that seems to have a black swim cap or a WWII flyer's hood on his head? I've tried to get a photo but haven't been able to. Could it be a genetic or birth defect? I'm sure it's a male,but never seen one like this.

I'd suspect a Cardinal that has lost the feathers on its head due to an infestation of feather mites - a fairly frequent occurrence at this time of year. The skin on the head is blackish.

Resin

Why would'nt I see more of them? We have an abundance of them here.

I have a cardnial that is completely bald right now from feather mites. Their skin color is a blue black (kind of creepy). I'll try to get a picture and post it this week.

Interesting.

I have bunches of cardinals (males, females and juvys) and other than molting in males, I haven't seen a feather mite infested one.

would love to see a picture. I've been trying for weeks.

Here is a pic of a female Cardinal. Her wing position makes her look like a hump-back. Cardinals go through molt in late summer and get pretty ugly.

Great pic. How close was you to the bird? What kind of camera? I try to get zoomed in pictures and the images are not clear or focus.

while we're at it

That's so cool, Marna and Red. It appears you have the same Quasimoto! LOL.

Good examples guys! Definitely feather mites and the feathers will grow back.

and look like this:

^_^

Geez! She's overdressed for the occassion isn't she? LOL.

No, that was for Halloween. this is her every day wear…

Gosh! She's actually is very conservative, isn't she? ROFL with you Marna.

Yaw's nut's !!

The bare head isn't caused by mites, it's from molting. All birds have feather mites. It's a symbiotic relationship that benefits the bird as well as the mites. The mites eat dead cells and fungi keeping the bird clean. There has been some studies that show the mites know when birds are about to molt and leave feathers that will be molted. Scientists aren't sure how the mites detect the coming molt.

Red, that's really interesting! Symbiotic relationship! I knew ants and aphids have the similiar relationship, however, I've only observed that with Argentina ants with aphids, not ALL ants. Hmmmm.

Oh Possum6, I opologize for hijacking your thread.