I have noticed unusual Cardinals also, but they look like they are molting and some may be sick, or deformed. Birds can get ill while molting and can get stuck in the molt. Could also be older birds.

Cardinals molt after they finish nesting and often look pretty sad. I don't think it is a sign of illness or injury. We notice several every year.

Thanks for the response Lynx and Birkie. I dont know anything about birds molts, when and why. Can either of you direct me to a web site about that?

I just want to say that I have fed birds for 9 years up on this deck, and have never seen a bald/blackheaded cardinal before. It shook me up. Pondy

I googled "cardinal molting" and the first hit was a site by Benjamin Burtt that was quite interesting. Take a look at http://web.syr.edu/~bpburtt/Birds/Feb22-04.htm.

I had a pair of cardinals nest in my yard. The male also did not have a tuft. Even before they nested. After the eggs hatched the female lost hers also. The babies had them. Later I saw a female that looked O.K. I'm not sure if it was the mother or one of the babies. Actually the Male, or a male, has been around a couple years and has always been that way. ????

Hey Birkie, that was a very informative site you sent me to. The photos shown of cardinals are exactally like my "freakish one". I no longer see any baldies, so assume that "fo" finished his molt and grew a new tuft. I was glad to know that such a thing is very unusual, cuz that sure was one wierd looking bird. Plus, I was worried that they were getting into some kind of poison around here.

I just love feeding birds, but they sure do make a mess of my deck. Next year I plan to buy one of those little plastic baby pools and put it under my deck feeder to catch all the mess. Does anyone else have a better idea?
Pondy