It is a wart like growth, seems to mainly affect Chaffinches, have never seen other birds with it, doesn't seem to bother them too much.
However, it is recommended to disinfect feeding surfaces as a precaution against spread of the infection, although it is not really known how transmission occurs.
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Warts (viral papillomas)
Agent: The Fringilla papillomavirus (FPV).
Epidemiology: The epidemiology of the disease has not been studied.
Species susceptible: Chaffinches and, to a lesser extent, bramblings. In a large survey of birds captured for ringing in the Netherlands, papillomas were found on 330 (1.3%) of some 25,000 chaffinches examined and both sexes were affected. However, cases usually occur in clusters and quite high proportions of local populations may be affected in outbreaks.
Clinical signs: The disease causes warty outgrowths on the foot or tarsometatarsus (the bare part of the leg). Usually only one limb is affected. The growths vary from small nodules to large irregular shaped and deeply-fissured masses which almost engulf the entire lower leg and foot and which can distort the toes. Affected birds usually seem in otherwise good health but some may show signs of lameness and hop mainly on the unaffected foot and digits may be lost. The warts grow slowly and may progress over many months.
Pathology: The growths have a similar structure to warts in mammals and are due to excessive growth of the keratinised layers of the skin.
Risks to human and domestic species: None known.
Diagnosis: The clinical appearance is strongly suggestive but other diseases can cause swellings on the legs and feet: infestation with Cnemidocoptes mites (there is some evidence for an association between mange due to Cnemidocoptes infestations and the occurrence of papillomas), bacterial infections (bumblefoot), poxvirus infections. Diagnosis can be confirmed by histology or detection of papillomavirus particles.
Impact on populations: It seems unlikely that this disease has an impact on population densities.
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