There's a story there

and I'm not sure I want to know what it was. This scruffy male house finch, obviously the worse for wear,

has been missing a good many of his feathers for at least the last two weeks. He is very skittish, bolting even when he hears the camera lens moving. This was the first time he stayed in place long enough for me to get a picture.

Something happened to this little guy, and whatever it was, it wasn't good. (I suspect an encounter with the cat from next door, who cannot be persuaded to stay out of our yard.)