Would anyone want to take a guess at what might have hap pended to this poor guy. One side looks completely normal but the other side is either injured or diseased. He seems to be eating and flying fine, but is constantly "looking over his shoulder" when he eats, so I wondering if he was attacked by something. I'll post 3 pics 2 of the bad side, 1 of the good. **Warning, he looks pretty bad so if you're squeamish, don't look**
#2 bad side
#3 Good side
Poor guy.I wonder if he was pecked and the wound infected? Keep us posted on his conditin. How long ago did you first notice this guy?
Just today :-( he does look sad but he's eating good right now.
Let's hope he makes it.
I'm sure he looks over his shoulder because he's blind on that side. Not sure what might have happened, but I hope he makes it.
He looks perky enough and he is eating...he will probably be allright. I would worry more if he wasn't eating and just sat with his wings puffed up. I can't imagine what happened...do you have thorn trees in your area?
That is bad!! I'm glad to hear he's eating well. It sure isn't going to be easy for him if other birds go after him.
Fingers Crossed!!
Rose, we've got a couple of those Locus trees in the back that grow the huge thorns, I can't remember what type they are.
I just wonder if that much damage could have happened while fighting? I've seen two males hit in mid-air and roll around on the ground.
Pelle, I've got my fingers crossed for him too. I had 2 males and 2 females in the area around the feeders this morning and so far, no one seems to be bothering him.
Yes Sadie, those are the trees!! I read someplace that one of the biggest threats to birds are thorns and I think those trees are the worst. We have them here and they are very difficult to control! DH actually saw a bird impale itself on a thorn so I would not be surprised if that is what happened to your little guy. I hope he keeps on eating and the injury at least heals. Poor little guy.. :0(
I looked in the PF, it's the Honey Locust, there are some pretty good pics of the thorns. I've gotten stuck with them before and it makes a really sore place. I agree, they are awful!!!
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/47810/
Nasty nasty trees!
That looks like the conjunctivitis a bunch of my house finches have.
Poor baby. I hate when you see an this sort of thing makes you feel so helpless.
Amos
I do too.
I wish I was home during the day so I could get another look at him. I may try to spend some time out there this evening and see if he comes by.
Here are some new pics of the my poor guy. He's been coming around some but this weekend was the first time I've been able to get more pics. He seems to be doing pretty well and the injury doesn't look as "fresh". In this pic you can kind of see how his eye, or what was his eye, sticks out. I wonder of he could have some kind of tumor?
another
1 more
Oh what ashame! Poor fella!
That is sad. Is it my imagination, or is it looking better than the first shot or too? Maybe a bit drier, healing?
The birds I have seen with conjunctivitis were obviously sick........fluffed up, shivering, lethargic. This looks more like an injury to me. Either way, there is nothing you can do, other than provide food and water to make life easier for him......which you are doing.
No definitely not conjuctivitis , I think its just the fact that its drying up that reminds you of that Mrs Ed.
I've been fairly lucky so far as I haven't seen too many House Finch w/ that this year.
Shelia ~ it looks dryer to me too, in the first set of shots I think it looked more infected or new.
He doesn't seem as skittish as he was before either. In a couple of the pics above, he was eating with a male Red-breasted Grosbeak, where as before, he would seemed to avoid other birds.
