Regular readers of my column might remember a story that I did back at the end of August that featured a predatory interaction between a mantis and a northern cardinal. Due to limitations of space I was unable to discuss the particular bird that was featured in the story, but it turns out that this particular cardinal was well known to me. Along with the chickadees, song sparrows, titmice and nuthatches, this one cardinal had become a regular visitor to the feeding platform down by my Thinking Chair.
I have been able to recognize this individual cardinal because of his appearance. Always looking a bit disheveled, this particular male also has a black spot in the feathers behind his left eye. I’ve also noticed that the crest on top of his head (a feature that cardinals are famous for) was a bit less prominent than what one might expect. This particular bird just looked a bit tattered whenever I saw him, as though he had been out drinking and brawling the night before. For this reason I decided to give him the name Big Bruce.
All through the summer Big Bruce has been unusual among cardinals for his willingness to come close to me. Up at the house where there is ample food on the deck, cardinals tend to be extremely hesitant and skittish about coming out into the open whenever I am around. In fact, it is so noteworthy to see a cardinal come close for an early evening meal that I am always sure to make a note of it in my journal. But Big Bruce is altogether different. Big Bruce will fly right up to me, bold as you please, and calmly munch away on sunflower seeds.
The combination of his somewhat rumpled appearance, the fact that he is recognizable and his uncharacteristically bold behavior have made Big Bruce something of a celebrity among the birds at the Thinking Chair. He seems to be the most dominant of all the birds that visit the feeding platform and even the blue jays give him a wide berth. At times I have thought I should change his name to Badass Bruce and for no other reason than the fact that I find it amusing I have decided that he probably has an Australian accent when he speaks.
Well, there has been a development in Big Bruce’s life that I find utterly delightful. Last weekend, while questioning my own sanity for sitting down in the Thinking Chair when the temperature was only 40 degrees, I gave out a little cheer when I saw that Big Bruce had brought one of his offspring to grab breakfast. And as I watched Big Bruce very gently feed this youngster, I couldn’t help but laugh at the family resemblance.
All young birds go through an ugly phase when their feathers start to molt. I have noticed, however, that the ugly phase these young birds endure is not equally expressed across different species. Sparrows might look a bit ragged and blue jays can almost look adorable, but cardinals are afflicted in a most particular way. Because the adult plumage is so “smooth” and beautiful, any variation from the normal form is jarringly obvious.
The youngster that Big Bruce had in tow was a very young male. I found this somewhat surprising due to the lateness of the season, but I expect that the superabundance of food that I have provided has allowed a pair of cardinals to continue breeding quite late into the year.
At one point father and son posed next to one another and I snapped a photo. I love the contrast between Big Bruce and his son Little Bruce. Both are looking like they are in pretty tough shape, but Big Bruce looks particularly battered. Just take a look at Big Bruce’s tail and you will see that he has two smaller feathers growing at the base of his tail where they were either molted or ripped out by a predator.
It is quite possible the Big Bruce will improve his look with a seasonal molt. If his feathers are all replaced he may even become unrecognizable as an individual, which I think would be a little sad. His personality won’t change, but if he looks just like every other male cardinal in the neighborhood it will become impossible for me to track his movements.
I am also curious to see if Little Bruce will inherit a rumpled appearance from his father. Based on what I’ve seen so far I think that he will have a “normal” plumage after he passes through his ugly duckling phase. But time will tell. Perhaps the local cardinal population will gradually become more rough and brutal in appearance; the genetic legacy of Big Bruce.
Bill Danielson has been a professional writer and nature photographer for 25 years. He has worked for the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, the Nature Conservancy and the Massachusetts State Parks and he currently teaches high school biology and physics. For more in formation visit his website at www.speakingofnature.com, or head over to Speaking of Nature on Facebook.