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"Bald" Cardinal

At the beginning of the season, a cardinal which has no feathers on his head showed up at our feeder. Later he seemed to grow a mohawk, so I thought he may just be molting. But now he's bald all the way to his shoulders. Is he possibly just an old bird or wounded from a fight or something?
Birding Expert - George H. Harrison

Your cardinal has a parasite problem, which is very common among cardinals. The head feathers fall out, the skin beneath is dark. The feathers will grow back, and the cardinal will survive. Don't worry about it.
Related to this Question
species:

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis

    
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