Great tit with growth

violetbakes · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011, 11:53 AM

As explained in the title, this bird has been visiting our garden for about a month now, it doesn't come everyday but its been feeding this morning and its head seemed slightly deformed and it has a huge red growth over one eye, it appears to feed and fly ok, none of the other bird will feed when its on the table though they all appear to move to other feeders.

RKB · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011, 12:41 PM

Bad news, I'm afraid: http://www.ufaw.org.uk/documents/GBH...sheetNov09.pdf

It would be worth your reporting it to them, as I don't think it is recorded/common in Shropshire. It first appeared in the south/east about 10 years ago, after being in Europe for some time.

If you put 'great tit avian pox' into google and look at the images tab, you'll see lots of pics.

Deb London · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011, 03:09 PM

RKB, we had a Woodpigeon infected with what I feel certain was pox virus. Is it possible that the virus carried by this Woodpigeon (especially if it had stayed around the garden) could infect a Great Tit?

RKB · #4 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb London

RKB, we had a Woodpigeon infected with what I feel certain was pox virus. Is it possible that the virus carried by this Woodpigeon (especially if it had stayed around the garden) could infect a Great Tit?

Doubt it. There are several types of pox, but this one seems to hit Great Tits. It might be carried by mosquitos or ticks.

Deb London · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011, 03:36 PM

Cheers for the info.

violetbakes · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 02:41 PM

Thank you

for the help and advice, I've rang them and they've logged it, you were right its not normally found around here, also logged the dunnock with the funny eyes too.