I wonder what's wrong with this blackbird's face

Hi, can anyone please enlighten me on the sore-looking reddish mark on this blackbird's face? Given her beak is open I thought it was a symptom of a parasite but an injury may also be possible, perhaps, as she is often chased away these days by a younger, aggressive female. This one ("Chickie") has been with us ten years and last year even recovered from a broken/dislocated leg. She's still eating and drinking what we put on the windowsill. I took the photo up close via the open kitchen window. She's a tough old bird and we're very fond of her.