I noticed this guy at the feeders this morning. His disfigurement doesn't stop him from eating and flying but he was rubbing it against the tree branches repeatedly so it seems like it must be something new. Can anyone in Tweeterdom analyze his problem from less-than-stellar photos and suggest whether it's a scab healing from a cat- or raptor-attack or if it seems to be an unfortunate birth defect?

Photos here:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/emmarytz/disfiguredhousefinch.jpg
and
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/emmarytz/disfiguredhousefinch2.jpg

-Mary
maryjmetzatyahoo.com
West Seattle