Is this a juvenile siskin or goldfinch?

[Hoppity]

I finally managed to get goldfinches into my garden last week but noticed today that a much bigger bird than the goldfinches (though a juvenile) arrived too at the feeders. I wasn't sure if it was a goldfinch, siskin or maybe some other type of finch. Any help in an id would be appreciated.




Thankyou.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by Hoppity

I finally managed to get goldfinches into my garden last week but noticed today that a much bigger bird than the goldfinches (though a juvenile) arrived too at the feeders. I wasn't sure if it was a goldfinch, siskin or maybe some other type of finch. Any help in an id would be appreciated.




Thankyou.

It's an adult male Greenfinch, and it's very ill. It's either got salmonellosis or trichomoniasis. Probably the latter, as there is an epidemic, and the vent looks dry. It is very important that you follow the advice on here: The RSPB: Advice: Trichomonosis in finches and other garden birds

In particular, take down all your feeders and remove all food IMMEDIATELY and disinfect them. Keep them down for at least a fortnight, preferably a month. You may have noticed sick birds - fluffed up, lethargic, weak, maybe having trouble eating. Keep a look out if/when you put food back out, and if you see ANY sick birds take down the feeders again.

This sounds like a lot of faff, but trichomoniasis has killed a fifth of our Greenfinch population in the past few years, and it's also hammering nails in the coffin of the House Sparrow. By attracting healthy birds into a small area alongside diseased ones, you're actually killing them.

[RoyW]

RKB's advice may not be what you want to hear (particularly as you have only just managed to attract Goldfinches to your feeders), but it is certainly worth following for the benefit of all your garden birds.
These diseases are easily transmitted between birds, especially at feeding stations which attract birds to a small area.

[Hoppity]

Thankyou so much for this vital information. I've just filed a report for the RSPB and am heading out now at midnight to take down my feeders and get them cleaned tommorrow. I did see it drink water at my bird bath aswell - so its going to get emptied now aswell incase any little birds drink from it in the morning. Most of my neighbours feed the birds aswell. I think I will need to inform them aswell.

Thankyou

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Hoppity

Thankyou so much for this vital information. I've just filed a report for the RSPB and am heading out now at midnight to take down my feeders and get them cleaned tommorrow. I did see it drink water at my bird bath aswell - so its going to get emptied now aswell incase any little birds drink from it in the morning. Most of my neighbours feed the birds aswell. I think I will need to inform them aswell.

Thankyou

Unfortunately diseases like this will always be around, it's just a case of keeping an eye out for any signs of illness, and then taking action to prevent an outbreak if you see any. Advising your neighbours would be a good idea - and at least there is plenty of food available in the wild at this time of year!

[Picidae]

Did this bird behave as if it were ill - sluggish, sitting around for long periods near your feeders not eating , or eating/swallowing with difficulty, regurgitating food, drooling saliva, wet beak etc.? An ill bird may not show all these signs together and may often carry on trying to eat right up to end term of illness but these are certainly the signs to look out for. Diagnosis of Trich relies on post mortem, so it's very difficult to be sure either way which is why it's important to look for above signs.

It's a drastic action to take if it isn't ill. Have you noticed any birds dying?

It's an adult male and it's heavily molting all it's body feathers which will make it look in poor condition anyway. Greenfinch have a complete post breeding moult. It also looks wet. Was it raining or raining recently when you took the photo?

The only think that suggests to me with the above proviso, is that the bird's eye doesn't look bright or fully open but I've seen many photo captures where that's just how the camera has captured it.

Personally, I'd just keep an eye on things for a few days before moving all the feeders but otherwise the advice as given in earlier posts stands as absolutely the right thing to do if there are signs of ill finches (or pigeons!) in the garden.

Disinfecting all your feeders , including the water bath (and drying them out before putting them back up) should be done anyway immediately as a preventative measure.

More info here:

http://www.bto.org/gbw/PDFs/Trichomonas ... _Aug06.pdf

The Lincolnshire Bird Club • View topic - Greenfinches with Trichomonas

''Trichomonosis spreads where the saliva of an infected individual comes into contact with that of non-infected bird. This could occur at garden feeding stations and at bird baths, so it is important to keep these as clean as possible.
If you see a bird in your garden that is fluffed up, lethargic and is perhaps drooling and having difficulty swallowing the BTO recommends that you empty your feeders and bird baths, disinfect them, allow them to air-dry, and then fill them again. Provide only a small amount of food so that old food does not accumulate and provide fresh water on a daily basis. We do not recommend that you stop providing food and water unless you feel confident that naturally occurring alternatives are available near your garden. If you are not sure, then clean up regularly and keep on feeding – many birds could rely on the food and water that you provide and removal of these resources might cause 'your' birds to find less sanitary gardens.
For more advice, request your free Garden Bird Hygiene and Disease leaflet from BTO Garden BirdWatch by emailing gbw@bto.org''

[accipter]

My racing pigeon's had this when I was a boy or something just like it,can not quite remember now, I know it turned out to be the corn I was feeding them, make sure of your [supply] is good and clean, and seed for birds. And just like the advice you have been given, clean feeders and clean water, good luck with that. Alan.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by Picidae

Did this bird behave as if it were ill....It's a drastic action to take if it isn't ill. Have you noticed any birds dying?

Just look at it. Particularly the eye and posture. It is very clearly ill.

There is no evidence of moult. If you look at all the coverts and remiges they are all there and all fully grown. A Greenfinch would be coming to the end of moult at this time of year in any case. Birds do not look 'ill' when they moult, they just look scruffy.

I have a lot of experience with these diseases in these species, and I assure you that it looks like a classic case.

In terms of 'risk', the risk of doing nothing for a few days is that other birds are infected and the disease spreads locally. If it isn't ill, and all the feeders are removed for a fortnight, then no harm is done as there is plenty of natural food. I say the precautionary principle is best.