Just A Sparrow
Posted by Samantha Kirkhouff on May 25, 2006
Q: Is it normal for a baby sparrow to not have any feathers on its neck or back, for it's skin to be a redish pink and its neck is curved to one side. I do not know how old it is but it is eating. It can not walk very well yet is that ok since it has quit a few feathers
Habitat: field/meadow
State: Ontario
Habitat: field/meadow
A: Samantha, if this is a newly hatched baby sparrow and not one that's weeks old then, yes, what you described is normal. But, from your description it sounds like the bird is much older. I may be jumping to conclusions here, but it sounds like a bird that's been pushed out of an overcrowded nest. It may have mites, but because the feathers are missing from its neck and back it's probably due to pecking by its nest mates. If a bird is weaker than the rest it often times gets less food from its parents and is overpowered by stronger more aggressive nest-mates. Thanks for the question.
Jim Berry ( May 26, 2006)