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Birding/Female cardinal feathers plucked...

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Expert: - 7/17/2007


Question
I live in an area of Ohio where there are lots of cardinals. I enjoy them and observe them as much as I can. A couple years ago, I saw a female cardinal with its head feathers and crest all plucked off. I thought it was odd.  Today I saw a female cardinal with its head feathers and crest all plucked off! Now I really wonder what the story is.  Is this a behavior Cardinals are noted for?  I can't find any mention of it on the internet... Thanks!

Answer
This seems to be a fairly common phenomenon among Cardinals, judging from the number of questions I have had on this subject. They are not plucked off, they fall out. It seems to be some sort of minor genetic defect in the molting pattern. Instead of feathers molting and being replaced a few at a time, most of them come out at once. They will grow back.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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