Not every trip I make into the field is filled with joy, butterflies, and rainbows. Sometimes, I come across injured or sick birds, like this Western Kingbird.
Unhealthy adult Western Kingbird – Nikon D500, f9, 1/500, ISO 800, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
On my first trip to Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge in May, I was photographing Eastern and Western Kingbirds when this one caught my eye.
As soon as I focused my lens on it, I knew it was unhealthy just by looking at its eye. The ocular ring around the eye was crusty and swollen.
That can be a sign of Avian Pox. This illness appeared to be in the early stages in this kingbird, but it was noticeable just the same.
There are two forms of Avian Pox:
- Dry/Cutaneous Form: Slowly developing wart-like growths appear on the featherless parts of the body like feet, beak base, and around the eyes.
- Wet/Diphtheritic Form: Plaques or lesions form on the mucous membranes of the mouth, pharynx, trachea, and esophagus, interfering with eating and breathing.
I am not 100% certain this kingbird was infected with Avian Pox, but it does look like it was.
Western Kingbird with possible avian pox – Nikon D500, f9, 1/500, ISO 800, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Four days later, at nearly the same location, I came across a Western Kingbird whose eyes looked bad too. Maybe it was the same bird; perhaps it wasn’t.
What is unusual is that these kingbirds are insect eaters. They don’t go to feeders like many of the birds I have seen with possible Avian Pox. Plus, there aren’t any seed feeders on the refuge that I am aware of.
This kind of made me figuratively “scratch my head” trying to figure out how this was transmitted to the kingbird or kingbirds. Most of the time the advice is to take down your feeders, clean them, but wait a bit to put them back up.
However, my research showed that mosquitoes are also a primary vector, transmitting the virus mechanically via their mouthparts after feeding on infected birds. There are plenty of mosquitoes at the refuge. Hordes of them actually!
I have one more sick bird to write about; another day, another time. This is enough sadness for today.
Life is good even when I am sad.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Western Kingbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
Mosquito’s are scourge of the world. Seems like they can infect anything and everything. Sad to see these clearly sick Kingbirds. Interesting narrative. Thanks Mia.
Yes, it looks like Avian Pox. It is spread by contact with a sick bird, it can live in the dried shed scabs for a long time, months to years! Mostly it is spread by mosquitoes in wild birds.
I was unaware that mosquitos are a vector for avian pox. This is certainly bad news. Thank you for sharing this information.
Wishing you joy.