Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs

The Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs - is a very widespread and abundant bird in GB and is commonly seen in gardens hopping about under feeders or taking food from the feeder itself. It is a very colourful bird with the male having a blue-grey cap, rust-red underparts and black and white wing bars whilst the female has a duller greencap, grey underparts and not as much white on the wings. This male, as you can see, has white lesions on its left foot and to a lesser extent on its left foot. This is called Viral Papilloma and is caused by a mite (Cnemidocoptes) which is passed on by contact or even just perching on a place where another infected bird has sat. The disease is also known as 'Tassle Foot', 'Mange' or 'Scaly Foot' and can affect not just the feet but also the legs of infected birds. The disease mainly affects the Chaffinch but has also been found more rarely on Bramblings, Bullfinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches. The disease which, strangely, can spontaneously disappear, develops slowly over a period of weeks to months and the bird can live quite happily unless it gets too severe causing lameness. Seen at Pennington Flash, Leigh.
Explore No 329, Nov 09 2022

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