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Acridotheres tristis
The head is almost just the skull but the bird was healthy, actively stalking and flying strongly. Normally chocolate coloured feathers would have covered the head.
Urban residential area.
I have seen such birds elsewhere too: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/20... https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/27... During my research days, there was this very aggressive crow that had learnt to snatch discarded pesticide-treated animals...it was bald. Such is NOT the case here. Adding some notes on Baldness in Birds: Cause, partial moulting, mites, injury, poor nutrition, pollution, genetics even OVER-preening by mate...all may be reasons. http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/bird... https://www.thespruce.com/bald-birds-386...
Spotted on Jun 24, 2019
Submitted on Jun 24, 2019
![salik [jungle myna ] Acridotheres fuscus.](https://lh4.ggpht.com/qDzPY_R83PjBXOJXxzlSzpqdb9GiAcWTY0PzdnjhQVVKGi60nnfKXTUsf22MpaBR8Q0dykAB-EU_6gK6aimD=s62-c)
9 Comments
Very interesting. Well, good for them, I guess! Hahah.
Thanks mauna...apparently the baldness in the common myna happens quite often and researchers still have not agreed over the WHY. Doesn't affect romance and starting a family though.
Woah! This is quite a find, Sukanya.
Thank you, Mark and Neil.
Baldness in birds happens and apparently common mynas are most affected...I will post some links...plus it is a common symptom of pesticide poisoning.@ Maria dB.
Interesting spotting. I wonder if the bird was molting or there was some other reason for a lack of head feathers.
I've never seen a bald myna either. The new look ;) Nice spotting, Sukanya.
Aha !! So that's what they look like underneath. Love the little tuft.
A yellow dinosaur. They are taking over here but I will look at them in a new light.
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!