Description

“Lumpy” was first observed on or around January 28th during a Project Feederwatch count here at Thacher Nature Center. The bird is a Dark-eyed Junco male with a significant cowlick of feathers on the left side of his face and neck. We believe that there is a growth of some kind that is forcing the feathers to grow in this manner. “Lumpy” seems to be otherwise normal, as he feeds, flies and scratches around under the bushes behind our feeders like the ~14 other juncos that visit our feeders on a daily basis. The growth does not appear to interfere much with his daily functioning. He was most recently observed at our feeders today, February 26th, after being absent last week for our FeederWatch count days. He has become quite popular with one of our interns, who has written a song: “Lumpy the Dark-eyed Junco,” sung to the tune of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Lumpy6 shows his front again.

Category

Growths

Species

• Dark-eyed Junco