Around my local area, I've been noticing some finches, mainly chaffinches and bullfinches with a fungal growth on their feet. Something similar spread through the greenfinch population several years ago and seriously affected their numbers. The infection was transferred to their mouths and inhibited their ability to feed, hence the high mortality.
The male on the left seemed to realise the right hand male wasn't well and he and others ostracised this bird when it came near a feeding area. I found this level of behaviour fascinating.
The picture was taken at the end of January so I guess the aggressive behaviour could have been to do with the on-coming breeding season, however, it was only the infected male that seemed to be abused.
Has anyone else witnessed this? I'd be interested to know.
Have noticed a male and female Chaffinch coming to a local feeding station with the fungal growths on their feet, but haven't noticed others ostracising them.
Brilliant action shot!
Posted by John Chapman on March 24, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Hi Chris, I used to keep exibition budgies and a few every now and again would get the fungal disease. So we just treated them with stuff that we got from the vet.
Posted by Cliff Young on March 24, 2010 at 12:58 PM
Great behavioural shot, Chris, and I appreciated the narrative along with it.
Well captured Chris and an interesting tale. A couple of years ago I lost 3 Greenfinches in my garden to this disease (even though I kept my feeders and bird bath clean). I didn't notice them being ostracised at all. In fact they each sat for a very long time at a feeder all fluffed up and normally the next day I would find a little body in the garden. All very distressing. I don't have any Greenfinches in my garden now at all. I do have Chaffinches - which touch wood all look healthy.
Posted by Lewis Thomson on March 24, 2010 at 3:51 PM
Hi Chris,
Great capture! We've had lots of Chaffinches with this fungus for the last few years, but it seems to be declining. The cold winter may have helped, if it hasn't killed off birds that were afflicted of course. I hear it really takes off in warm wet weather, so lets hope we have a dry one this year!
Cheers,
Lewis.
Posted by Dave Bartlett on March 24, 2010 at 6:47 PM
I think what you see is caused by the Papilloma virus, which affects many birds and is very common in finches. I've noticed it most in greenfinches and bullfinches, but it also occurs in chaffinches.
Posted by Andy Gregory on March 24, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Great action shot Chris. I haven't seen this in Bullfinches but once had to rescue a chaffinch which had a large growth on it's foot which had become snagged in a Yew Tree
Discussion
10 repliesThe male on the left seemed to realise the right hand male wasn't well and he and others ostracised this bird when it came near a feeding area. I found this level of behaviour fascinating.
The picture was taken at the end of January so I guess the aggressive behaviour could have been to do with the on-coming breeding season, however, it was only the infected male that seemed to be abused.
Has anyone else witnessed this? I'd be interested to know.
Cheers,
Chris
Brilliant action shot!
I have not noticed this behaviour it always seems to be the usual fighting for food/mates .
Great capture! We've had lots of Chaffinches with this fungus for the last few years, but it seems to be declining. The cold winter may have helped, if it hasn't killed off birds that were afflicted of course. I hear it really takes off in warm wet weather, so lets hope we have a dry one this year!
Cheers,
Lewis.