The Lincolnshire Bird Club

This week noticed a big male Greenfinch in garden, it's about three times the normal size, it has a job moving on the ground, but can fly okay. Watched it for a while this afternoon, while it was sat in magnolia and on ground eating. It tends not to mix with the other Greenfinches [maybe it's been sent to Coventry].

I have read in the BTO Bird Table Magazines that these birds have been suffering from an illness. Did find two dead Greenfinch in 2006 in garden but not near the feeders.

I regularly clean all the feeders.

Did try to get a photo of it but not acheived it yet.

Regards

John

Three times the normal size ?!!

That will make it a Green Woodpecker John. !



Trev

Or a Parrot!!

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Regards,

Andy.

Let's just say it's fat, maybe I've been feeding it too much.

Andy, ,

when you said a parrot, made me wonder if it is a ring-necked Parakeet and not a Greenfinch.

It's a good job Uniomystic can't answer this post or he would have field day.

Hey john what is all this, have you found a KAKAPO ?, How big, you surely are not a fisherman John ?.
Are you a fisherman ?. The other day you were flashing your ginger nuts around now your getting your maggot wet.
I don't know !! whatever next ?!!.

terry whalin

Hi Terry,

The only fishing I do is on here, baiting those willing to bite the hook

Max

I've also seen a Greenfinch in my garden in the same way as the one John/Max described. It was very lethargic and wondered at one point if it was trichomoniasis....... about a week after last seeing it, I unfortunately had to deal with a dead Greenfinch at the foot of the feeder. I don't know if it was the same one. Held it in my hand for a while and learned a bit about which feathers were which (coverts, primaries etc...), along with basic bird anatomy stuff and found out how big it was in relation to my hand.

Washed my hands thoroughly afterwards with warm water and my hospital radio hand sanitiser to be on the safe side. A gruesome way to find stuff out...

ooooooh !!! ouch !! just be careful where you put that gaff.

Terry Whalin

On a half serious note, are you sure its not an escaped Grosbeak of some kind?

Or a Pine? Or Evening? I'll be happy to come round and confirm either of these.

John

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John and Paul,

Just checked my Collins and although I only have ten years experience [not including rarities] I'm hundred per cent certain it's neither a Pine, Evening or Rose-breasted Grosbeak, wish it was I've never seen one before, in the wild or captivity.

The bird which I believe to be a male Greenfinch was here again today, sat in it's usual spot in the magnolia. To give a better description I would say it's twice the width [ as if it's puffed it's feathers up to keep out the cold ] of a normal Greenfinch. But the same length. If it comes over weekend I'll try and get a shot of it.

Regards

John

One theory is that it could be a sign that the Greenfinch is not in top condition. Ill and very cold birds fluff their feathers out which gives them an abnormally fat appearance. From ringing experience, these birds when weighed are well below thw weight they should be.

Stuart,

It had crossed my mind it's ill, not seen it since Friday, so maybe...

Does sound like a ill bird. I believe Greenfinch and Chaffinch are the species most likely to get Trichomoniasis.

There is a bit of info here about it. I always clean the feeder that the Greenfinch use in our garden at least once a week with a anti-bacterial stray

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/health/sickbirds/greenfinches.asp

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TAKE ONLY PHOTOGRAPHS, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS

John,

Is the anti-bacterial stray that you use cat or dog?

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Regards,

Andy.