White crown on junco?

[Amy Roberts]

Please forgive me if this is a stupid question, but I spotted this little guy this morning. Being a bird, he wasn’t exactly holding still for his impromptu portrait session, so most of my photos are blurry. But I did manage to get these two.

What I’m wondering is, do you think that crown just some foreign matter (ie, dirt or bird droppings), or a normal color variation, or is it indication of a problem/illness? Or maybe none of the above.

Thanks so much!
Amy Roberts
Fort Collins
Sent from my iPad

[Mary Kay Waddington]

Amy,

Those are sheaths on new feathers growing in.  A Junco should have finished its Fall molt by October, so I'm guessing this bird lost a bunch of head feathers at one time (accident, close call w/ an accipiter, whatever) and is now growing them back.

Mary Kay Waddington

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