Friday, October 9, 2026
JUVENILE MALE NORTHERN CARDINAL MOLTING INTO ADULT PLUMAGE, SERENA GUNDY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 12/8/2026
The scruffy looks indicates that this Northern Cardinal is molting. It is a juvenile male Northern Cardinal molting into adult plumage. It is likely a male because it shows a heavy concentration of crimson feathers across its face, chest and throat. The bill is turning red, but still has a lot of the dark coloration of a juvenile bill. The head shows some of the gray skin underneath the feathers, as the juvenile cardinal temporarily looses head feathers as it molts.
MANKY MALLARDS, SERENA GUNDY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 10/8/2026
Manky Mallard is a slang term for a hybrid of a wild Mallard and a domestic duck. See my post dated 3/7/2026 (actually posted on 3/9/2026) on Manky Mallard. The Manky Mallard in the first photo looks like the same one we have previously seen and photographed. The one in the second photo, with a much smaller white spot, we have not seen before. The Manky Mallard in the second photo has the same bright blue speculum as a wild Mallard. Both these Manky Mallards were among a large group of wild Mallards.
GREEN STINK BUG, SERENA GUNDY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 10/8/2026
The Green Stink Bug gets its name from the fact that when it is disturbed, it releases a strong unpleasant odor from scent glands on it thorax.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)