Hi all,
I spotted a dunnock today with some growths around beak and feet. I wondered if anyone could help identify if this is disease (avian pox?). It's the only time i've seen this dunnock, and i have others that are healthy. This one turned up today. No other signs of disease in garden, but wondering whether to immediately stop feeding. Photo might be rubbish as upload limit meant i had to reduce repeatedly - possibly making the poor dunnock look even more diseased and pixelated!
Thanks for any advice.
It's not too easy to tell from the photo, but growths around the feet are quite probably from the mite, Knemidocoptes (especially seen in Chaffinches). Not too sure as regards the beak area but I've read that Dunnocks are prone to an infection of Trichomonosis, caused by a protozoan parasite. If you noticed any behavioural changes (e.g. difficulty picking up seed or swallowing) then it could certainly be that.
A very unlucky Dunnock if it has both of these things I've suggested!
Thank you Roger. Yes that would be very unlucky, poor little guy. It didn't seem to be struggling to be honest and exhibited no odd behaviour. Haven't seen him since so just keeping a close eye on things in garden.