We've become huge fans of our little red-headed male finches, especially watching the fledglings and juvies as their color comes in. I noticed this particular male finch was unusually scruffy looking, and his coloring was patchy. I wondered if it's another of one of those color variations I see sometimes, so wanted to share these photos for opinions.
To elaborate - I've learned about white feathers on some sparrows that I've seen. And male finches that develop yellow feathers, rather then red ones as they mature. Could this be a juvie whose coloring just hasn't come in fully, or some genetic thing with finches? He looks pretty disheveled to me, and the other male finches seem to pointedly avoid him. This could be my imagination, as I've watched female finches gang up on one specific female, and peck her head so that all the feathers stick straight up making me wonder how she became such a victim. At any rate, I'd appreciate any knowledgeable or fantastical ideas as to what this odd coloring is about.
I agree it looks odd but no idea why.
As for birds pecking each other - they are just "hard-wired" that way. They spot tiny differences and they peck at them. That is how baby birds first learn to find seeds and bugs. Unfortunately, that extends to other birds - so minor injuries can turn into major ones with the help of their peers.
When I was a kid, I raised pheasants for the Dept of Wildlife through 4H. They were terrible about banging themselves against the pen, then pecking at each other's injuries. I was afraid that I would end up building two dozen separate pens for my two dozen birds. It was a relief when they were finally old enough to release.
House Finch, for anyone that's wondering.
Looks like it is moulting, with new feathers coming in; at a guess, first-summer (brown feathers where you'd get red on an adult) moulting to adult (red).
Resin
Thank you! I knew he was a house finch, and some of them are SO freaking tiny with lots of bright, bright red, like this little guy. I'd just never seen one before that was as beat up as this other one. They're a treasure!
