Find out what Project FeederWatch is, its history, and more
Find out how you FeederWatch, when you can FeederWatch, and what you'll need to do to get started
Review these instructions carefully before you count and enter data
Find out about types of feeders and types of foods, and where to place your feeder
Feeding Birds FAQs
Explore the winter distribution, food, and feeder preferences of common feeder birds.
Find out about color and plumage variations, bald heads, and deformed bills
Unusual Birds Gallery
Find out about bird disease and identifying the signs of bird disease
Sick Birds Gallery
Find out how to identify birds and download identification tools
Learn how to help birds as they seek out food sources, nesting habitat, protection, and more
Find educational resources for teachers, group leaders, and families
Find an article archive packed with lots of great bird study information
Learn about house finch eye disease
Review content from current and past BirdSpotter photo contests
Keep up to date with the latest FeederWatch happenings
These are exemplary FeederWatchers!
Send us your photos! Show us your count site, your birds, or you watching your site with loved ones!
Visit our live FeederWatch feedercams!
Cornell Lab of Ornithology feeders
Ontario (winter only)
See what birds occur the most by region
Explore species by state/province
See where FeederWatchers are
Graphs of regional population trends and distributions
Explore papers that have used FeederWatch data
Lab scientists analyze the data submitted by FeederWatch participants.
See birds well outside their winter range submitted to Project FeederWatch.
Start here for data entry and personal data review and exploration
Keep live track of your counts using the FeederWatch mobile app
Susan Wider
Santa Fe, NM, United States
We have been seeing this house finch-sized bird at both the bird bath and a seed feeder for about a month, often daily. The lower beak is elongated and tubular. Instead of an upper bill, there is a thin protuberance that extends forward and wraps over the side of the lower beak on the bird’s right. The bird eats and drinks well, flies well, and seems otherwise healthy. It has patches of yellow to beige above the eyes and on the breast. We have additional photos if desired.
Deformed bill
Side view showing deformed lower beak with protuberance where upper beak should be.
We have a house finch at our feeder that has this same deformity. She seems to be doing ok despite it.
I just saw one like this as well. Sad but it is able to eat. I have pics as well.
I have one at my feeder as well. Has some difficulty eating. I sent a picture to my local rehab center
I have one at my feeder, too. Just noticed her for the first time yesterday. Her upper beak seems almost non-existent.
I also have one. Female. Any known cause?
Hi Spike, please feel free to read more about beak deformities on our webpage here.
Male house finch with beak deformity. Lexington SC. Dec. 28, 2020. He is at the feeder and is able to eat.
Angeles National Forest/LA County
Just noticed a cute little finch who has a deformed bill. She also looks as though her eyes are not in the right place and feathers either mounting on her head or she’s got a very patchy head. She’s eating perfectly and is quite a bully when the others come to eat. Have not captured photo yet but I will. Is there something I can supplement black sunflower seeds with to help with any nutritional issues?
i just had a finch at my feeder with this same beak deformity. The upper beak is large and quite hooked on my finch. I think he sturggles to eat but he must be getting some seed as he seems to be a normal size.
We have a male house finch with a deformed beak as well. Feb 20, 2023. Palo Alto, CA. Male, reddish top and front plumage. Looks like lower bill is very elongated and next to no top at all on his beak. End of the lower beak looks frayed, perhaps from stabbing at food on rough surfaces. Also looks like abnormal growths on top of his head on the left side. And feathers there are patchy/irregular. I have seen him several times over the least few months and think these abnormalities are progressive. He’s a moderately large, regular at the feeder and seems to eat well enough. No other signs of distress. Finally got a pretty good photo of him.
We have an adult male house finch in Placitas, NM, Aug-Sept 2023, with a similar very elongate bill, over an inch long, fairly straight with slight downward curve, and narrow. We think it is at least the top bill that is overgrown.He has been around several weeks and seems to be healthy.
I have a male house finch with that beak at my feeder in AR. He seems healthy.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.