For about 50 weeks out of the year, cardinals are majestic birds, gracing of all our backyards. But the first two weeks of August are not kind to these red beauties. I saw a cardinal at my feeder this morning that looked like he got into a bar fight and lost. His top knot was missing, he had several bald spots, and all his feathers were disheveled.
Cardinals are now molting, a natural process.
Feathers, like everything else, wear out and they need to be replaced. According to the bird experts, feathers are much like hair on people. They grow but aren’t alive. Feathers become damaged through wear and tear. If a feather is removed, it will grow back, but damaged feathers stay damaged. So, they need to be replaced ever so often. This is what molting accomplishes- the renewal of a vital system.
Most birds molt once a year, though a few molt during mating season for a more striking appearance. Also, most birds lose only a few feathers at a time so they can continue to fly. Geese, however, lose flight feathers for about two weeks in the summer and are unable to fly .
This is the “ugly time” for cardinals but give them a few weeks and they will be as spectacular as ever.
