I believe conjunctivitis has been reported in many populations of
House Finches across the country. Project Feederwatch, sponsored by the
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, is tracking the disease, I think. It
causes the area around the eyes to swell and usually causes it to swell
shut. As far as I know, it isn't a tumor and eventually would go away if
the bird lives long enough (but they are usually nailed by predators first).
I think it is caused by a virus or bacteria of some kind but I can't
remember for certain right off hand. Disinfecting all feeding surfaces with
bleach then rinsing them well should help stop the spread of this disease.
I have never heard of conjunctivitis causing any problems with the
feet. It is possible that this is a separate problem.
I have never heard any reports of such a high incidence of
deformities. I wonder if it selective memory or sick birds sick hang around
the feeders more than healthy birds.
The afflicted birds may not all be juveniles since the only field
characteristic you mention is the red on the head. This only occurs in
males; females lack any red coloring and are gray and brown all over. I
think even hatch-year males are sporting a little bit of color by now.
I had a few House Finches last spring that had swelling around the
eyes and I noticed that they appeared to be females (no red coloring). I
don't remember a male with the swelling but there might have been one.
Just out of curiosity, where does Mr. Dougherty live?
My recommendation, for what it is worth, disinfect everything
frequently until the incidence of problems decreases.

At 20:31 14/10/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Dear Tweeterites,
>
>Were there some messages posted in the past year or so on a disease or
>parasite or other pathology common in House Finches?
>
>Mr. Walter Dougherty has been observing House Finches at his feeder which
>exhibit deformities like tumorous growths near their eyes or on their
>throats. Some have twisted, crumpled feet. He believes that about 1
>out of every 8 finches have some kind of deformity. The deformed
>birds, in his estimation, are all juveniles, not yet sporting the red
>on the head.
>
>That's about all I can remember of my conversation with Mr. Dougherty.
>I would appreciate any information that might be provided. I may
>call the National Wildlife Health Lab to try to get some informed
>guidance on this one.
>
>Kelly McAllister
>Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
>
>
>

Deb Beutler
Department of Zoology
P.O. Box 644236
Washington State Univerisity
Pullman, Whitman Co., WA
dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu