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Dunnock with horrible growths (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter christineredgate
- Start date
christineredgate
Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th
I cannot believe that there is no one on this Forum,who is not able to say why this little Dunnock has these horrid growths and what has caused them.Where is Michael Francis !!
christineredgate
Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th
Thanks,Henry.But what has caused this problem,will this little bird survive,is it common,or a one off problem.
prairiemerlin
registered guy
I'm not sure what this could be, but check out this page:
http://www.westol.com/~banding/Pictorial_Highlights_101326_2003.html
Scroll down to near the bottom, they have a photo of a robin with bill with growths.
http://www.westol.com/~banding/Pictorial_Highlights_101326_2003.html
Scroll down to near the bottom, they have a photo of a robin with bill with growths.
Katy Penland
Well-known member
Hi, Christine,
Here in the US, we've had a big problem with diseased House Finches: huge tumors on their heads, and I had two in our yard alone also with body tumors. It's such a widespread problem that Cornell University Lab of Ornithology has a project where people can report sightings of diseased birds. Very sad to see, indeed.
Here in the US, we've had a big problem with diseased House Finches: huge tumors on their heads, and I had two in our yard alone also with body tumors. It's such a widespread problem that Cornell University Lab of Ornithology has a project where people can report sightings of diseased birds. Very sad to see, indeed.
very boring banned member
New member
Looks very nasty, and maybe the bird doesn't feel any better. Take it to a veterinarian? Or euthanasia? If latter, it may be good idea to bury the body some 30-50 cm deep.
KnockerNorton
Well-known member
It's a viral disease. I've had starlings with the same thing. It's contagious (birds can catch it from the cage of a bird that was previously infected), and as it's a virus it's nigh-on incurable. It can also affect the feet, by the way. I'm afraid that this little Dunnock has 'had it', as the growths will weaken and impair it.
If you've got a bird table, thoroughly clean it and all feeders in something anti-viral (not just anti-bacterial), and re-site it. Might be an idea to wait til the Dunnock's gone though, so as to avoid recontamination.
If you've got a bird table, thoroughly clean it and all feeders in something anti-viral (not just anti-bacterial), and re-site it. Might be an idea to wait til the Dunnock's gone though, so as to avoid recontamination.
Joern Lehmhus
Well-known member
Hi Offord,
Is that the virus that is called bird pox or avian pox?
Is that the virus that is called bird pox or avian pox?
KnockerNorton
Well-known member
I assumed it was avian pox (or at least 'a pox' virus). Whether it is THE avian pox, I'm not sure as I never had them tested.
desgreene
Well-known member
Hi Christine,
I spotted a similarly ailing Dunnock earlier this year.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=20771&highlight=dunnock
After a few days it no longer visited and presumably must have died. However no other garden visitors appear to have been infected. We have a couple of Dunnocks and they appear healthy so hopefully it will turn out the same for you.
Des.
I spotted a similarly ailing Dunnock earlier this year.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=20771&highlight=dunnock
After a few days it no longer visited and presumably must have died. However no other garden visitors appear to have been infected. We have a couple of Dunnocks and they appear healthy so hopefully it will turn out the same for you.
Des.
christineredgate
Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th
Thanyou for all our replies.No the dunnock was not a feeding station visitor,it was feeding off the ground at the entrance to the Hodbarrow nature reserve.Will keep a look out for it on my next visit.i just felt so sorry for it,and not having seen anything of this nature before wondered what was the problem and how it was caused.
But again,thankyou for all your replies.
But again,thankyou for all your replies.
