Hi, Tweeters,

This very cold morning (7 Jan 01) I saw a House Finch with an odd growth. The
growth was relatively large, about the size of a green olive. It involved the
entire area just underneath right side of the beak. It appeared to go right
into the neck. It looked like the bird had mumps on one side. The growth was
black...I don't know if the patch was bare skin that was black, although I
suspect this is the case, or if the feathers covering the growth were black.
I suspect the former.
The bird itself appeared quite healthy and was actively searching for food.
It's eyes were clear and it didn't have that pathetic lack of vitality that
birds with salmonellosis have.
I'm suspecting this is avian pox, although I've never seen the growths black
before. If anyone is doing research on this, I hope this helps you.

Michelle
MBlanchrd at aol.com
Thurston County
Olympia, WA