Posted by Rob Graham on January 1, 2011 at 10:25 PM
I've been following this roadrunner since it fledged around Labor Day. I took this photo this morning, and is the first time I've seen a patch of bare skin on the bird. Is this a sign of injury or illness? Could it still be molting, even as temps drop into the single digits overnight? The spot is visible in several poses, so the slight breeze shouldn't be the culprit. Thanks in advance.
Rob, I am unfamiliar with roadrunners. In a songbird my first guess would be an air bladder leak but even that would be just one possibility. I would suggest that you contact a wildlife rehabilitator in your area ... they will be familiar with this species. You could send them the photo. Here's one in NE Kansas, but I don't know your specific location.
http://northeastkswildliferescue.com/
~Michele Williams
Posted by David Graham on January 2, 2011 at 8:04 AM
Good shot, Rob.
I have two comments:
First, Birds appear to be "completely covered" with feathers, but actually, feathers grow from a number of "feather tracts" separated by glabrous (unfeathered) skin arranged over the body surface such that the feathers growing from them will overlap or at least be in close contact with the feathers of adjacent feather tracts and thus cover the intervening glabrous skin (featherless tracts). Many avian species have symmetric featherless tracts on the sides of the neck which may briefly be exposed by sudden postural change or even by an errant breeze or wind, which is why, given the choice, and beyond aerodynamic take-off advantage, birds will stand or perch facing into the on-coming breeze or wind.
Second: Notice the two pale tan...almost white... plaques at the anterior (nasal) commissure of the eyelids. These are suggestive of a local inflammation or epithelial proliferation and are, most likely, early lesions of avian poxvirus infection. There is no way to predict the degree to which these lesions, if they are caused by avian poxvirus, may be self-limiting or may spread extensively. In some cases there may also be pox lesions in the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus and can so interfere with eating that death by starvation ensues.
If these eyelid lesions are, as I suspect, avian pox, you may have the opportunity, albeit a sad one, of documenting the progress ...and possible recovery... Of poxvirus infection in an individual free-living wild bird.
Dave Graham (Veterinarian, Pathologist, and wldf disease researcher, Ret.)
Estelline, SD
Posted by David Graham on January 2, 2011 at 3:22 PM
Before posting my comments about the thickened plaques on the edge of the roadrunner's eyelid, I should have prefaced the comments with something like "Although I'm not intimately familiar with roadrunners..." or "...if roadrunners with pox infection are anything like other species infected with pox I've worked with..." because sure enough, someone with obviously more intimate contact with and knowledge of roadrunners than I possess, one Lee Daniels, sent me some excellent close-up photos of the facial features of several roadrunners demonstrating that the thickened skin at the edge of the eyelids is, indeed, a normal feature of the species. I've asked Lee if I could post her photos and await her permission to do so, or for her to post them herself.
This demonstration of a profound point of personal ignorance reminds me of a demonstration I was giving to a meeting of wildlife veterinarians on collection of blood samples from raptors. All the buteos, accipiters, and golden and bald eagles (as well as many other avain species....but not waterfowl...) have a wide, featherless tract overlying the course of the right jugular vein (which, in most avian species, is much larger than the left jugular vein, and thus easier to use for venipuncture). As luck would have it, the State Game and Fish officer supplying the demonstration birds had brought a "teaching" osprey that had recovered from being gunshot, but was not suitable for release. So, with a preface on raptor venipuncture similar to my verbage above, I proceeded to part the feathers of the neck of the restrained osprey (a species I quickly realized I had not bled before) to find that the expected apterylous tract (featherless patch) wasn't there...and the jugular was hidden below a dense population of feather follicles precluding its convenient use for venipuncture!
So, sorry 'bout that! Even in retirement, one can live and learn!
Keep an eye out for Lee's photos. They are excellent.
Her photos can be seen at
http://danielsimage.com/roadrunner:
Dave Graham
Estelline, SD
Posted by Rob Graham on January 2, 2011 at 9:49 PM
Dave, thanks for chiming in and answering the feather question. I'm glad that the pox diagnosis was wrong. Happy New Year!!
Posted by John Cubit on January 6, 2011 at 11:02 PM
Don't worry, all greater roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus) develop this patch of bare skin aft of the eye. In time the patch of skin will turn red and blue. Your bird is just growing up. Google the species name for plenty of on-line photos of this feature in more mature birds. It's great that you are able to follow this bird so closely.
Regards,
John Cubit
Discussion
5 replieshttp://northeastkswildliferescue.com/
~Michele Williams
I have two comments:
First, Birds appear to be "completely covered" with feathers, but actually, feathers grow from a number of "feather tracts" separated by glabrous (unfeathered) skin arranged over the body surface such that the feathers growing from them will overlap or at least be in close contact with the feathers of adjacent feather tracts and thus cover the intervening glabrous skin (featherless tracts). Many avian species have symmetric featherless tracts on the sides of the neck which may briefly be exposed by sudden postural change or even by an errant breeze or wind, which is why, given the choice, and beyond aerodynamic take-off advantage, birds will stand or perch facing into the on-coming breeze or wind.
Second: Notice the two pale tan...almost white... plaques at the anterior (nasal) commissure of the eyelids. These are suggestive of a local inflammation or epithelial proliferation and are, most likely, early lesions of avian poxvirus infection. There is no way to predict the degree to which these lesions, if they are caused by avian poxvirus, may be self-limiting or may spread extensively. In some cases there may also be pox lesions in the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus and can so interfere with eating that death by starvation ensues.
If these eyelid lesions are, as I suspect, avian pox, you may have the opportunity, albeit a sad one, of documenting the progress ...and possible recovery... Of poxvirus infection in an individual free-living wild bird.
Dave Graham (Veterinarian, Pathologist, and wldf disease researcher, Ret.)
Estelline, SD
This demonstration of a profound point of personal ignorance reminds me of a demonstration I was giving to a meeting of wildlife veterinarians on collection of blood samples from raptors. All the buteos, accipiters, and golden and bald eagles (as well as many other avain species....but not waterfowl...) have a wide, featherless tract overlying the course of the right jugular vein (which, in most avian species, is much larger than the left jugular vein, and thus easier to use for venipuncture). As luck would have it, the State Game and Fish officer supplying the demonstration birds had brought a "teaching" osprey that had recovered from being gunshot, but was not suitable for release. So, with a preface on raptor venipuncture similar to my verbage above, I proceeded to part the feathers of the neck of the restrained osprey (a species I quickly realized I had not bled before) to find that the expected apterylous tract (featherless patch) wasn't there...and the jugular was hidden below a dense population of feather follicles precluding its convenient use for venipuncture!
So, sorry 'bout that! Even in retirement, one can live and learn!
Keep an eye out for Lee's photos. They are excellent.
Her photos can be seen at
http://danielsimage.com/roadrunner:
Dave Graham
Estelline, SD
Regards,
John Cubit