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Re: Cardinal with Black head

From:

Philip S Brody

Reply-To:

Philip S Brody

Date:

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:50:41 -0400

I had one last year, July 5 2008. I have a fuzzy photo but clear enough that 
I will e-mail to anyone who wants it. I assumed at the time that the 
aberrations were the result of molting but I have no particular knowledge to 
that effect.

Phil Brody


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Long" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:53 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Cardinal with Black head


> On one of my backyard feeders near the Bay Bridge, I glimpsed a bird 
> several weeks ago that looked like a male cardinal with a black head and 
> no crest. At the time, I went through the books looking at various 
> grosbeaks, but decided it could not have been any of them.  Today, I saw 
> it again and was able to get my binoculars on it.  It IS a male cardinal, 
> but it apparently has some sort of problem.  The head is black, and 
> appears to be missing most of its feathers.  I can see the ear holes. 
> There seems to be some fuzzy down-like feathers around the head and a few 
> quill-like things sticking up just above the beak where the crest would 
> normally start.  The rest of the bird looks normal, and it acts normally. 
> Because it has survived for several weeks since I first saw it, I do not 
> think it is dying.  But, is it sick, or is it some sort of genetic 
> anomally?  Does anybody know what this is?
>
> Steve Long
> Cape St. Claire, MD