Diseased Bird: Sick Cardinal
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A very advanced case of mycoplasmal infection, presumably acquired from bird feeders and originating with house finch eye disease?
Categories: Eye problems
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3 comments on “Diseased Bird: Sick Cardinal”
Are you seeing this disease in North Central Florida? We found a male cardinal that was teetering on a fence. On closer look, his one eye was crusty and appeared smaller. I put him in a pet carrier, seed and water in a dark spot and within 15 minutes, he was dead. I could hear a clicking sound in his lungs.
Hi Deborah, I’m sorry to hear about this cardinal. If you find a sick bird again in the future, it’s best to clean your feeders and call a local, certified wildlife rehabilitator for further advice – we do not recommend handling or treating wild birds unless you have the necessary federal permits, or are under the direction of someone who does have them.
Cardinals molt their head feathers so I think he’s just molting.