I have a bit of a soft spot for naked birds. It started with Little Naked Finster Buddy, one of the four original Finsters. It continued with Bambi, who got the nickname "Skanky" when she stopped taking baths (and started losing feathers for lack of proper preening). Now I have Oolong (Of The Ears), and the very handsome Szechwan (Pepper).

Remember when I first got this bunch of birds, and I thought there was a chance that some of them might grow some feathers back in a new environment? Well, I was wrong. None of them seem to have grown any feathers back — and in fact, Szechwan (Pepper) has lost more feathers on his tiny, tiny little head. His head is now practically naked. You could even call him bald. Sweet, bald Szechwan (Pepper). The small picture, which you can see much bigger by clicking here (pops), shows off his very naked head.

Note that these two photos were taken right before I cleaned those perches, so keep your eyes on the bird, please.

The odd thing is the pattern of the feather plucking. He's taken off the feathers around his neck by himself, but someone else plucked the feathers from his head. One of the other Finsters is either loving him to death (so to speak), or trying to make him less attractive to the babes. So far his baldness hasn't made Cassia leave his nest box in disgust, though. Maybe she likes bald guys. Still, hopefully the trigger for all that plucking isn't jealousy, because the poor thing really can't get much balder. I shudder to think what could go next!