I know I caught the oddest robin in a mistnet in summer '03 in the Wenatchee National Forest while doing a banding internship. This appeared to be a situation where the bird had broken it's lower mandible, and the upper grew out of proportion. The upper was very long and starting to curve down. I couldn't see how the bird could even eat, but it seemed pretty healthy otherwise. Of course we reported the information to the Institute for Bird Populations, who was our employer, as well as to the USGS. We also took some pictures, but when we developed them, they were all messed up (which is one nice thing about digital - if the picture ain't right, and the bird is still in the hand, you know right away and can retake the pic). A very odd bird, but one I was rooting for when released. It's a tough world for a wild bird, and one with a beak deformity, or a missing leg (caught a Yellow-breasted Chat the same year in Grants Pass that only had one leg) has an even tougher row to hoe. !
Their
ability to survive under these greater stressors is amazing.
Brett A. Wolfe
Seattle, WA
Paul Hicks <PHicks at accessgrace.org> wrote:
Tweets,
I suspect that any number of beak abnormalities have been encountered by birders. The most intriguing abnormality in my non-research-type experience was a Spotless Starling in s. Spain with a bill, as I recall, one-and-a-half to two times the length/depth of the head. The mandibles may have been assymetrical (ie, different lengths), but I didn't get a definitive look. I was never able to relocate the bird, but I assume the effects were not fatal since it had reached adulthood. It looked odd, to say the least!
Good birding!
Paul Hicks
Tenino, WA
phicks AT accessgrace.org
----original message------
From: "Greg" <pelican AT vei.net>
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 20:33:40 -0800
Dear Tweeters, In the most recent newsletter of the Falcon Research Group (FRG) there is anarticle about discovery of serious beak abnormalities in 60 raptors (55Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Rough-legged Hawks, 2 Peregrine Falcons and aFerruginous Hawk) mainly in the Pacific Coast and NW. This messageparaphrases part of the article...
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