"Who are you calling ugly?" Photo: Iain Woxvold, University of Melbourne
Unlike cardinals, bluebirds, and other sweet-faced songbirds, the bald little bulbul isn't much to look at. Scientists aren't sure why the birds lack feathers on their face and heads, but say it could have something to do with a mating ritual.
The bare-faced bulbul is the only bald songbird ever discovered in mainland Asia, but he's hardly the only member of the Animal Kingdom who's gone a little thin on top. Check out the gallery below for more bald animals.
Hairless Animals
Made famous by Mr. Bigglesworth of "Austin Powers" fame, the hairless Sphynx is actually covered with a suede-like peach fuzz. The hairless kitties love to cuddle -- it helps them stay warm.
Moti Milrod, AP
Rumor has it that the vulture's head is bald so the bird doesn't muss up its feathers while poking its head inside a delicious meal of scavenged carrion. But recently scientists have suggested that the vulture's bald head may actually help it regulate its body temperature.
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The bald uakari of the Amazon jungle may look like an angry goblin, but its bright red face is actually considered a sign of good health.
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Whoever said "bald is beautiful" clearly never met a naked mole rat. Thank goodness these rodents spend their lives in underground burrows in Africa -- we don't want to run into one in the light of day!
Julie Larsen Maher, WCS / AP
Kodogo could use a toupee! The male mountain gorilla lives in a national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But old age isn't to blame for his hairless crown; the silverback has been balding his whole life for reasons unknown.
BARM / Fame Pictures
Most ibises sport a proper head of feathers, but two ibis species -- northern bald ibises of the Middle East and southern bald ibises of Africa -- have naked noggins. This featherless chap is hardly a laughing stock, though. Ancient Egyptians worshiped ibises, bald heads and all.
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The Mexican hairless dog breed has existed for more than 3,000 years. When Christopher Columbus landed in the New World, he wrote about the strange hairless dogs in his journal.
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When Reggie the Hamadryas baboon was born at a British zoo back in 2005, his doting mother went a little overboard on the TLC. She licked Reggie so insistently that the baby monkey lost all the hair on the top of his head. Zookeepers assured the worried public that the hair would grow back.
SWNS
Time-Lapse Tortoise Noms Salad
