How do you recognize a sick bird? What are the most common bird diseases and what should you do if you find sick birds in your garden? We answer these and other questions here.
Like humans, birds are plagued by a variety of diseases and parasites. Some of these occur sporadically and generally do not have a major impact on the population. Others spread suddenly and can cost the lives of thousands of wild birds - such as the Usutu virus, which caused mass blackbird deaths in 2011, or the bacterium Suttonella ornithocola, which only before recently led to many dead blue tits. In our information article we would like to show you what the most common bird diseases are, how you can recognize them and what you can do to prevent the spread of bird diseases.
Bird Diseases: Which are most common?
Bird diseases are very diverse and can cause a whole range of symptoms. It is therefore not always easy to recognize them in the first place and even more difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. Nevertheless, we would like to introduce you to the most common diseases and their symptoms:
- The Usutu virus became known in 2011 because it led to a massive death of blackbirds in a short time. In 2016 there was a second major wave of infections. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and kills within a few days. Most affected animals show no symptoms, but some appear apathetic and disoriented.
- 2022 the death of the blue tit attracted a lot of attention. The pathogen that caused this was Suttonella ornithocola. This is a bacterium that has caused severe pneumonia in the infected animals. The birds seemed listless, were puffed up, some had yellowish encrusted beaks and severe shortness of breath.
- The number of wild birds infected with birdpox has also been increasing for some timeyears increased. The disease, which is also caused by a virus, occurs in a large number of bird species and is often observed in titmice. Birdpox is easy to spot, with growths the size of hazelnuts.
If you see sick or dead birds in your yard, the first thing to do is to thoroughly clean all feeding and watering points to prevent the spread of the disease. If the cases increase, you should stop feeding completely and report the finds to NABU or the Wildvogelhilfe immediately.
Also, if you find a sick bird in the yard that seems weak or apathetic, shows obvious symptoms and you can approach the animal, you should capture it and place it in a box with air holes. Grasp the bird around the middle of the body so that it cannot injure itself by frantically flapping its wings. Gloves should definitely be worn to protect against beaks and claws. Then put the box in a quiet, dark place and contact a veterinarian or a suitable foster home, such as one of the NABU wild bird sanctuaries. Injured wild birds can also be reported in the Facebook group "Wildvogelhilfe-Emergencies" - there you will be given the name of expert first-aid measures and care centers in your area.
Note: As a lay person, you should not attempt to nurse the bird back to he alth yourself. Also, do not give him any water or food, as the animals can choke. Wild bird care requires a lot of experience and knowledge and therefore often goes wrong if it is not carried out by experts. The same applies, by the way, if you have found an injured bird.
The most common bird parasites
Parasites are also a problem for wild birds. Some can be seen with the naked eye, others are so small that you have to look at the birds' symptoms for guidance. The most common parasites in wild birds are presented below:
- feather lice are small plumage parasites that lay their eggs in the plumage of birds and feed on skin scales and feather components. The birds experience severe itching and scratch themselves a lot. As a result, the birds usually look unkempt and sometimes have severe plumage damage. In addition, they often appear weakened because theysuffer from sleep deprivation due to constant itching.
- The louse fly is several millimeters in size in contrast to the small feather lice and is therefore easy to see with the naked eye. The parasite also attaches itself to the plumage of birds, but bites into the skin and feeds on the animals' blood. Louse flies often specialize in certain bird species. One of the most common representatives is the swallow louse fly, which attacks house martins and barn swallows, for example.
- Trichomonads are unicellular organisms that spread through direct contact between birds and can affect many animals in a short time. In the summer of 2009, the pathogen Trichomonas gallinae led to a mass death among greenfinches for the first time. The affected birds show foamy saliva, great thirst and a greatly reduced escape response.
- Mange mites are burrow mites that infest the face, legs or cloaca of birds. The parasites can be recognized by the whitish, scaly deposits that they cause in the affected regions. Here, too, the birds scratch themselves and sometimes even pull out feathers.
As with the diseases mentioned above, treating bird parasites is almost impossible for the layperson. Louse flies could still be collected with tweezers and crushed like a tick, but once the bird is weak enough to be caught it will still need professional help so the same instructions as before apply.
Is puffing up in birds a symptom of disease?
A fluffy plumage mainly serves to protect against heat loss. The additional air that accumulates between the fluffed up feathers has an insulating effect and makes it more difficult for the body to dissipate heat to the environment. This is perfectly normal in winter and not necessarily a cause for concern. However, in summer and when temperatures are warm, ruffled feathers can very well be a sign of illness, because sick birds often have a low temperature and freeze. However, sick birds often show additional symptoms. They pull their heads close to their bodies, close their eyes slightly and often flee late or not at all if approached.
How to protect birds against diseases and parasitessupport?
Bathing in the sand to get clean sounds strange to us at first, but for birds it is an important part of preening. With a lot of shaking and wing flapping, parasites are removed in this way. A sand bath in the garden can therefore be of great use and is very easy to make yourself: You can simply fill a trivet or bowl with sand and place it in a place that is as sunny as possible and safe from cats.
Note: Another bizarre preening practice in birds is called einmsen. The birds brush living insects - mainly ants - through their plumage. The resulting secretions, such as formic acid, act against bacteria, fungi and other harmful organisms.
Other hygiene measures that you should carry out yourself are regular cleaning of your bird baths and feeding stations. On hot days in particular, these can otherwise quickly develop into breeding grounds for parasites and pathogens. Since many birds congregate there, numerous animals can become infected in a short time.
Besides diseases and parasites, birds often have other problems in the garden. Domestic cats, for example, pose a real threat that is often underestimated. Find out in our special article how cats and birds feel at home in the garden at the same time and what cat owners and bird lovers should pay attention to.