Odd Robin?

[Pete Collins]

This Robin in our garden has been in this state for two weeks or more now. Is this natural, or has he ben in some sort of scrap with a predator? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Pete

[GME]

Hi Pete,

Looks like a very tired parent whos been busy feeding the kids to me. I know how it feels You never know though, could have had a scrap. Its missing feathers are very linear around the neck. Nice pic though. Keep an eye on him and let us know how he does

[ron1863]

Looks to have been in a fight as they are very territorial - or had a bad hair day.

[Kayleigh]

A lot of the birds are looking like this at the moment. They are going to come into moult soon, after they will look a lot happier and healthier.

[cmullen]

Robin's all look a bit scrappy at this time of year, hence why you see them less often (they are very vain and only like being seen at their best!) after they moult they will all be out showing off again.

[Pete Collins]

I did wonder about moulting, but he/she's looked pretty much the same for a couple of weeks now. And there's another Robin in the garden that looks perfectly normal. Anyway, I'll keep an eye out and see if he/she returns to the splendour of it's normal plumage!

Thanks for all your comments!

[witham]

could it have had its head caught somewhere while reaching for food etc and has rubbed it's feathers bit like you see sheep with bald necks when they have been reaching through the wire to eat

[Pete Collins]

Thanks for that suggestion, witham - I did wonder if it had caught itself in some wire fence or mesh.

[Jason Green]

The grey chest feathers are there in there entirety, yet the red/orange neck feathers are missing for some reason. If this was predation, I'd expect the grey feathers to be torn but they're not. This would probably also affect the rear plumage too.

I could be going the wrong way with this... but due to the fact that the area affected is limited to below the head, could it be self-inflicted in the way that some distressed animals 'pluck' there own plumage?

[cmullen]

Maybe, or perhaps it pulled them out for it's nest as an insulator? Just an idea.

[witham]

I took these pics yesterday evening under a hedge in the garden, I thought at first it was a fledling but don't think they get their red breasts straight away but no it's another ragged Robin and it was doing some aggresive cleaning/preening so something was bothering it so I've had another thought, could it be mites, I know avairy birds if not cleaned out regularly can get them especially at this time of year and if severe, the irritation can cause them to pull their feathers out and wild birds nests must be heaving at the moment.






needless to say I don't think the feather also in the pics is one of its