Calling Maestro....

[CC]

I am guessing this is a house finch? Or is it a Purple finch? The finches are just starting to get their summer colors around here.





I have to call DNR tomorrow because his left eye is messed up. He may have avian conjunctivitis. Not a good picture but he moved around a lot and never kept the bad eye toward me long.




I also signed up with Cornell so I can report it. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/hofi/ in case you might be interested. I did bring in ALL the feeders and sanitize them after seeing him there.

[Eurobabe]

1. Looks like a purple finch to me

here's a link:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.somersetbirds.uko2.co.uk/north_america.htm&h=332&w=500&sz=49&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=stiD7ic_akJ9SM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpurple%2Bfinch%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1B2GGGL_enUS208DE208%26sa%3DN

[CC]

2. That is what I thought but just wasn't sure.

When I went to the Cornell site it said that Purple Finches were not believed to be affected. When I get my lab number I will send them the picture. It hasn't been back yet but I am watching for it.

I do not want the other finches to get it so being very careful and watching all their eyes closely.

[Eurobabe]

3. poor little thing

is he a regular at your feeder? i hope he makes it. :(

[CC]

4. Hard to say how regular he was or would be.

It is spring so I am seeing more and more birds at the feeder. I know I had some finches through the winter but not near as many as I have now. It is the first time I saw one with a bad eye but then maybe I never got a good look before. I had to get the camera out to be sure there was something really wrong with his eye and not the wind blowing his feathers. I haven't noticed him since but the poor little thing was trying to keep his good eye toward me and only turned his head when other birds flew on his blind side. I don't give him good odds with a pair of hawks living in the woods close to the yard.

[Maestro]

5. That sure looks like a Purple Finch to me.

They are fairly common along the East Coast and West Coast along with rather common sightings east all the way to Texas. Keep us updated. I hope he can fight the infection or injury. They are beautifully handsome finches. I have never seen one.