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A different looking male cardinal - Update
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gfreiherr
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:12 am Post subject: A different looking male cardinal - Update |
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We have at least four pair of cardinals that frequent our feeders. There is one male cardinal that looks different from the others. I can always pick him out because he is more red than the others. The feathers around his face & neck are fuller and he is not as plump as the others. I thought he might be a juvenile but he does not look like the photos I have seen of juveniles. Any thoughts?
Different looking male cardinal ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )
One of my thoughts is that I am spending too much time watching out the window. 
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Last edited by gfreiherr on Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:13 pm; edited 1 time in total
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toni
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:44 am Post subject: |
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It looks like he may have a genetic defect or is ill. A juvenile male looks like the adult but has the coloring of the female.
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eileen
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:38 am Post subject: |
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It certainly looks as though there may be something wrong with the male on the left. He's way too thin and I think that's why the head looks fuller than the one on the right. Let's hope that he survives.
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Droopy
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe he's eaten too much carotenoid pigment? He really is brilliant sitting there. I hope he's well.
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gfreiherr
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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He is pretty aggressive and fearless around the other birds and appears healthy (and eats a lot). The first thing I noticed about him was his eyes seem larger.
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"A garden is a delight to the eye and a solace for the soul" ~Sadi
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bsewnsew
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| Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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They are both so cute.
It doesnt have the black the whole way aroung the eye part either.
Sure is bright. Maybe just a freak one.
It does have the Orange beak that cardinals wear.
Keep showing.
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daisybeans
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| Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:29 am Post subject: |
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Very interesting. A mystery to be solved. He surely does look very different.
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toni
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| Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:36 am Post subject: |
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I would send the photo to http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search and ask if they knew anything about what might be wrong with him.
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Gardening is an adventure liberally laced with misadventure.--Midge Ellis Keebler
Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne
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gfreiherr
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| Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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Great idea Toni... I just sent them an email. 
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~ GAIL
"A garden is a delight to the eye and a solace for the soul" ~Sadi
Live, Love, Laugh...Garden
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gfreiherr
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| Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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I heard back from the Cornell website and she said to send my photos and she would take a look. He was back on the ledge this morning and is missing more feathers around his eye, that's why it looks so distinctive. Here is today's photo.
update on cardinal ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )
Will let you know when I hear back. Appreciate everyone's responses.
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~ GAIL
"A garden is a delight to the eye and a solace for the soul" ~Sadi
Live, Love, Laugh...Garden
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Kay
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| Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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I have a friend who is an avid bird watcher/photographer and this Cardinal reminded me of some photos he took last year (2009) The Cardinals had this same appearance, like they were shedding or losing feathers. Some of them were completely bald! After consulting with one of our local bird guys, they thought it might be some kind of mite. We haven't seen any like this since. He sure is a beautiful red though.
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kuntrygal
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| Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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He isn't looking so good. Gail, I hope you hear back from Cornell soon.
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glendann
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| Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 7:23 am Post subject: |
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I think he look sick in that last photo.I sure hope not.He is so pretty.
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Sjoerd
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| Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:44 am Post subject: |
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I am following your posts with interest. I wonder what it could be. Mites was the first thing that I thought of too, Kay...but when I saw how th feathers were standing-out, I wondered if there might not be a tumor or a cyst or some type of swelling under the skin pushing the feathers up and outwards.
It's so unfortunate that this lovely bird has this problem, but I am quite interested to discover the condition's cause.
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gfreiherr
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| Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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I have been doing some research on line and suspect you are right about the mites. When I cropped the last photo of him there was an alarming difference in one week. He is a very active bird and comes to the ledge & feeders on a regular basis. Still waiting to hear back from Cornell. Here is an interesting article I found on cardinals & mites.
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek030701.html
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~ GAIL
"A garden is a delight to the eye and a solace for the soul" ~Sadi
Live, Love, Laugh...Garden
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