Re: Cardinals
Anthony G. Futcher (tfutcher@cuc.edu)
Tue, 18 Aug 1998 08:17:53 -0400
This question comes up eveery year during the molt time. I am not sure of the
definitive answer, but it is a regular occurrence. Some have suggested feather
mites, others an abnormal molt. It is regular enough - I see them and have
caught such birds while banding. There seems to be nothing else wrong with
them, and I am not aware that there is really any problem caused to the bird.
It does look odd though.
Best wishes,
Tony Futcher
tfutcher @cuc.edu
Fran Saunders wrote:
> I have been asked to post the following to MDOsprey. If you know
> anything about the condition described please post directly to the author
> as well as MDOsprey. Thanks.
>
> Fran
>
> From: <eldon.colby@cio.treas.gov>
>
> Dear Web Master, I don't know how to post a message on this site but
> would like to see if anyone has a comment on the following.
>
> Possibly someone might know what's wrong with these two Cardinals.
> The
> male is the most normal but has lost his crown and has one feather
> sticking up on the top of his head. However, the female does not look
> like a cardinal at all. I say it's a cardinal because it sounds like one,
> acts like one, stays close by it's mate, and the beak and tail are
> cardinal like. The beak looks too big, I believe because this bird has
> apparently lost all of her feathers on her head and neck. She only has
> fine gray feathers left, no black around the beak, and no crown at all.
> The other strange thing is that she has a cream colored breast and under
> body, very light in color and in sharp contrast to her dusky red wings and
> back. Oh, and she is twice as fat as the male. Possibly she is pregnant.
> Are these very sick birds or mutants?
>
> Would you mind posting this for me, or tell me how to get onto the bird
> chat. Thank you.
>
> --------------------------------
> Fran Saunders
> Maryland Ornithological Society
> Baltimore, Maryland
> State Web Site Director
> saunderf@ari.net
> http://www2.ari.net/saunderf/mos/mos.html
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Anthony G. (Tony) Futcher, Ph.D. e-mail: tfutcher@cuc.edu
Director of Records, Columbia Union College fax : 301-891-4121
Takoma Park, MD 20912 office : 301-891-4119
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