A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity The Bird Lovers Forum He's BALD!!!!

This time of year, during the Summer molt, many species of birds lose ALL the feathers on their heads, FIRST, making them totally bald. This is ESPECIALLY true of birds that have a crest like Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays. It doesn't hurt the bird, and in a few weeks ALL the feathers grow back and they look as good as new. Yesterday I had the good fortune to have one of these Yul Brynner birds show up at my feeders. It was a Blue Jay I had two more Jays show up also that weren't bald that give me a GOOD comparison. And here they are.


BALD BLUE JAY


Normal Blue Jay

He has some awesome markings on the rest of his feathers, Thorny. But he sure looks like one of our California condors with the naked head.

Wow, I never knew that..about the molting.

great pics and info.

I thought the only bald birds were the ones that fed on carrion. Maybe this blue jay is changing his diest. But then again he could be a teenage bird trying out a new feather style

It is weird to see a bald bird. You learn something new everyday.

At Birder's World every year at this time, we get FRANTIC, tear-filled posts, about these poor DISEASED birds that show up at beginning birders' feeders. They want to "help" the poor suffering birds but DON'T want their pets and family to "Catch" that "Disease" and suffer and die, too. We have to explain to the people that write these notes, that this is NORMAL, and that the birds are NOT sick. We tell them to take some pictures of the birds , sit back, and have a laugh over the birds' condition.

These people, like everybody that sees this for the FIRST time, are so relieved, and then become fascinated and amused by this ODD way to molt. This is one of the things that I am VERY interested in about birds.

Will all Blue Jays lose their head feathers or just some?

Probably just some Jays. The other two or three with it are fine.. Either they won't lose them, or else they have already lost them and they grew back, OR they haven't lost them yet. Cardinals are the OTHER species that go BALD this time of year.

Hmm Interesting I wonder what causes it. Would it be the heat or maybe when they reach a certain age. Nature is strange but usually has it reasons.

his bald head looks like a vulture.

Ask not for WHOM the Vulture waits......he waits for THEE!!!

I like that quote.