I will just offer the observation made several times while studying nesting redwinged blabkbirds at the Cornell ponds that no males arrived with bald heads but quite a few Showed missing patches during EARLy breeding season while disputes were common. At least once a fully feathered banded male had a down and out fight, flew off but was back trying to retake his territory the next day...with a bald spot.
Whatever other explanations may pertain, male-male fights contribute I feel sure. Balding blue jays show up after breeding during post-juvenile and post breeding molts, I agree. Have seen. Not just their heads look ratty. Sent from my iPhone > On May 13, 2020, at 12:20 PM, Peter Saracino <petersarac...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Thanks! > Pete Saracino > >> On Wed, May 13, 2020, 9:27 AM Tim Gallagher <t...@cornell.edu> wrote: >> Here's a link to a piece they ran a few years ago on the Lab of Ornithology >> website: >> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/i-have-a-bald-bird-at-my-feeder-is-it-sick/ >> >> I have a bald bird at my feeder. Is it sick? - All About Birds >> We receive many inquiries about bald birds, especially Blue Jays and >> Northern Cardinals. In late summer and fall, when a bird molts, it usually >> grows and replaces its feathers gradually, but occasionally a bird loses all >> the feathers on its head at once. This is particularly true of Blue Jays, m >> ... >> www.allaboutbirds.org >> >> >> From: bounce-124627147-10557...@list.cornell.edu >> <bounce-124627147-10557...@list.cornell.edu> on behalf of Peter Saracino >> <petersarac...@gmail.com> >> Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2020 4:58 PM >> To: Linda Clark Benedict <lbenedic...@gmail.com> >> Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L <cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu> >> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] molting birds question >> >> Thanks for the info. Must be so m.j e as re molting non-essential feathers? >> >> On Tue, May 12, 2020, 2:37 PM Linda Clark Benedict <lbenedic...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> We had a bald rose-breasted grosbeak at our feeder. >> >> On Mon, May 11, 2020, 3:35 PM Peter Saracino <petersarac...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Hi folks. >> Recently I have seen one "bald" redwing on a tray feeder and another that >> was nearly bald. Now I see what appears to be an adult Oriole "losing" some >> of the black on its head. Is it normal for these birds to molt some of their >> non-flight feathers at this time of year? >> Thanks for the help. >> Pete Sar >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> BirdingOnThe.Net >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> BirdingOnThe.Net >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
