There is this titmouse. I keep seeing him. He’s a member of the tufted titmouse breed, but has failed the first bit, because he has no tuft. In fact, his entire head appears to have mange, or possibly leprosy.

Photo:
http://www.metalandmagic.com/Images/LJimages/scrufftitmouse.jpg

I originally thought maybe he was moulting. Birds molt, right? But it’s been weeks, and this guy still looks like he got a haircut at Blind Birdy’s House of Flailing Shears. So I am stumped. It’s like the titmouse version of Phantom of the Opera. All he needs is a teeny little mask.

He doesn’t seem to be slowed down at all by having the scruffy head, and I find myself calling him “Scruffles” to my everlasting shame, although I’m trying to quit.