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Strange? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter pie
- Start date
Chickadeedeedee
Well-known member
Great picture, Pie!
LOL! I'm looking at the first picture and turning my head to the side to try to see behind that branch.
LOL!
Hmmmmmmm. My first impression is the bird has a piece of a twig stuck on his beak that fits over like an extension. Maybe he was pecking around on the ground in some leaf litter and hit a piece of wood exactly head-on and it got attached to his beak?
It does look a little different in colour at the end. Hmmmmmm!
Strange is right! Hope he shook it off.
Lydia
LOL! I'm looking at the first picture and turning my head to the side to try to see behind that branch.
LOL!Hmmmmmmm. My first impression is the bird has a piece of a twig stuck on his beak that fits over like an extension. Maybe he was pecking around on the ground in some leaf litter and hit a piece of wood exactly head-on and it got attached to his beak?
It does look a little different in colour at the end. Hmmmmmm!
Strange is right! Hope he shook it off.
Lydia
Ruth Daniel
Well-known member
Very odd indeed Pie???
I do hope that it is a twig stuck on and that he is able to remove it???
do let us know if you see him again won't you?
Great set of pics!! :t:
Best wishes,
I do hope that it is a twig stuck on and that he is able to remove it???
do let us know if you see him again won't you?
Great set of pics!! :t:
Best wishes,
robinm
Registered User
Elongated mandibles do occur and this does look like one to me. The downward curve is typical.
See this RSPB site article - http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/health/birddeformities/index.asp
See this RSPB site article - http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/health/birddeformities/index.asp
Hi Pie,
It looks as though your bird has an abnormally long top mandible. This is a known problem with Blue Tits, sometimes both mandibles overgrow but usually the top is longer than the bottom. Also sometimes they will grow crossed.
The affected birds find feeding difficult, they usually have to turn their head sideways and try to pick up food in that way.
I've been trying to find a reference that you could read but no luck so far, suggest that you contact the RSPB help-line 01767 680551, ask for Ian Peters, they may have a leaflet about it.
Ah, while I've been writing this Robin has given you the info. Good lad.
Bill.
Bill.
It looks as though your bird has an abnormally long top mandible. This is a known problem with Blue Tits, sometimes both mandibles overgrow but usually the top is longer than the bottom. Also sometimes they will grow crossed.
The affected birds find feeding difficult, they usually have to turn their head sideways and try to pick up food in that way.
I've been trying to find a reference that you could read but no luck so far, suggest that you contact the RSPB help-line 01767 680551, ask for Ian Peters, they may have a leaflet about it.
Ah, while I've been writing this Robin has given you the info. Good lad.
Bill.
Bill.
pie
Well-known member
Thank you all very much for your advice. The link was very useful Robinm, thank you, seems you were spot on Bill.
I saw him at Forest Farm but he flew away soon after the pic so I cant say if he is managing to feed with this condition.
Poor thing, Ive never heard or seen this before, fascinating.
Will add this to my medical sect of my diary, he can join the Chaffinch with Bramble foot.
Thanks again all.
I saw him at Forest Farm but he flew away soon after the pic so I cant say if he is managing to feed with this condition.
Poor thing, Ive never heard or seen this before, fascinating.
Will add this to my medical sect of my diary, he can join the Chaffinch with Bramble foot.
Thanks again all.
Hello Pie,
There used to be a Rook which visited our garden who had a deformity to his beak, very similiar to your Blue tit. He first started coming one winter and he used to hold a piece of food with one of his feet and then put his head down sideways to get the food into his beak. I took pity on him and used to go out with food each morning, he would be waiting on a lampost and then fly down when I went back inside. He disappeared after a while and it was a few years ago now but I remember thinking how hard it must have been to feed and survive like that.
There used to be a Rook which visited our garden who had a deformity to his beak, very similiar to your Blue tit. He first started coming one winter and he used to hold a piece of food with one of his feet and then put his head down sideways to get the food into his beak. I took pity on him and used to go out with food each morning, he would be waiting on a lampost and then fly down when I went back inside. He disappeared after a while and it was a few years ago now but I remember thinking how hard it must have been to feed and survive like that.
How strange pie, thanks for posting the pic, I've found the replies interesting. Have never seen this myself, poor bird must really struggle. Funnily enough I read on the main forum just an hour ago about another blue tit, looks just like yours. Here is a link in case you've not seen it:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=78446
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=78446
pie
Well-known member
Hi Lapwing,
Ive never heard of this before, how unusual. It must have been fascinating to see how you Rook coped with his condition. It just goes to show how intelligent Birds are, I would have thought it would be impossible to survive.
It's a shame my Bird was not in the garden, I would love to know how he's doing.
Hi Kezza,
What a coincidence!!
I replied to that thread & included the rspb link that Robinm posted.
It's good to know I'm not alone thinking how unusual it was.
Well spotted, thanks Kezza
Thanks again everyone.
Ive never heard of this before, how unusual. It must have been fascinating to see how you Rook coped with his condition. It just goes to show how intelligent Birds are, I would have thought it would be impossible to survive.
It's a shame my Bird was not in the garden, I would love to know how he's doing.
Hi Kezza,
What a coincidence!!
I replied to that thread & included the rspb link that Robinm posted.
It's good to know I'm not alone thinking how unusual it was.
Well spotted, thanks Kezza
Thanks again everyone.
Chickadeedeedee
Well-known member
Hope the little guy gets things straightened out. Would it eventually break off close to where it should be?
I have a photograph *somewhere* of a Blue Jay with an elongated beak but for the life of me I am unable to locate it. The search will continue.
Interesting subject.
Lydia
I have a photograph *somewhere* of a Blue Jay with an elongated beak but for the life of me I am unable to locate it. The search will continue.
Interesting subject.
Lydia
