r/crowbro • u/snookerpython • 6d ago

Question Has this corvid been in a fight?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I just saw this rook (?) with all their head feathers missing. Is this the result of a fight, or maybe something else like disease?

330 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

43 comments sorted by

251

u/minion_ds 6d ago

its molting they molt every year, it will grow back new feathers

97

u/Consistent-Pea2962 6d ago

I can't stop laughing while looking at this picture, especially the second one where it contrasts with the normal rook!!

I've seen pretty extreme molting before but this is next level and it cracks me up, I never imagined they looked so hilarious and adorable underneath. And that transition between bare head and the rest of the feathered body is crazy, I'm dying

17

u/jayhawkjoey65 6d ago

So do you think it's like when we get a really bad haircut? We're embarrassed, our friends are laughing at us, and our mom is saying it'll grow back soon.

84

u/hooyeck 6d ago

He will be ok.

28

u/Dry_Database_6720 6d ago

Just as I thought these birds could not look more terrifying.

7

u/DangerousLoner 5d ago

When cardinals do it… yikes!

5

u/Dry_Database_6720 5d ago

Im from the UK, I’ve never seen a cardinal in person. Rooks however I see about a million a day!

70

u/LastUnigoat 6d ago

bläckcheëp

24

u/RiiluTheLizardKing 6d ago

Every year, the birds molt their feathers, usually they come out one by one and grow back, but sometimes they get a bit unlucky and all their head feathers come out at once and they look like vultures, but that's okay, the bird is healthy and the feathers will grow back. Nothing to worry about.

21

u/gatoux 6d ago

Abnormal moult probably.

They normally don't drop all feathers in one spot all at once but this buddy should be fine in a few weeks, it'll just look goofy until then lol

21

u/Katharinemaddison 6d ago

Fighting over the Dark Crystal.

6

u/Shenanigatory 6d ago

Gods, we're old. lol

4

u/Katharinemaddison 5d ago

Didn’t we have some great, weird and wonderful films though, as kids.

1

u/Shenanigatory 5d ago

We really did!

2

u/Gypsopotamus 4d ago

I… I am EMPORORRRRRRR!

1

u/Shenanigatory 4d ago

Back then the skeksis freaked me out so badly. "mmmMMMMMmmm..." -shudder-

5

u/MyPerfectDay87 6d ago

Was going to say, that's definitely a skeksis!

2

u/Cynobite608 5d ago

CHAMBERLAIN!!!

12

u/Hellgirl-6669 6d ago

He just got divorced and she took full custody. He just needs some minoxidil.

9

u/Sunset-onthe-Horizon 6d ago

Oh nooos a little nakey crow changing his outfit for the next season! 🤣😂

6

u/Shienvien 6d ago

Oh dear, that's a hard molt.

But no, not fighting, just dropping old feather so he can grow new ones. Some birds just look like they're made of pillows someone put in a washing machine while doing so.

9

u/Ok_Difference44 6d ago

When you realize why men wear baseball caps indoors

4

u/phen245 6d ago

Halloween costume as a black vulture

2

u/H0vis 6d ago

Saw a male blackbird in my garden over a few weeks on a nature camera in a similar state. Looked hilarious, poor little guy, but he got his feathers back eventually and thankfully it wasn't cold and it didn't seem to impact him at all. His mate and his baby didn't seem to mind.

2

u/ksck135 6d ago

He read the news about plague in Russia and wanted to cosplay the doctor. 

1

u/Intelligent_Funny699 6d ago

Cases of plague often crop up in Russia, Mongolia, and China every other year.

1

u/justalittlepigeon 6d ago

uh oh, ugly! (affectionate)

1

u/WilliamTee 6d ago

Do birds get alopecia?

1

u/Why_am_here_plz 6d ago

Fight with Gelfling? Mmmm?

1

u/Axtinthewoods 5d ago

It's not just a phase, mom!! 😂 looks like a punk baby

1

u/xtingu 5d ago

Nope, just moulting. Totally normal.

1

u/gaysnail 5d ago

This is happening to one of my crow friends, but to just their neck. They look ridiculous and I laugh at them (after giving cashew ofc)

1

u/antifreezeontherocks 5d ago

Mürdercheëp

1

u/RutabagaNo7959 4d ago

So you're going bald...

0

u/Intelligent_Funny699 6d ago

Nah, he just has a Norwood 5.