Recognizing Conjunctivitis

Birds with avian conjunctivitis often have red, swollen, watery, or crusty eyes; in extreme cases the eyes are so swollen or crusted over that the birds are virtually blind.  

Recognizing Avian Pox

Avian pox is another disease that affects House Finches.  This disease is characterized by wart-like growths on the featherless areas of the body such as around the eye, the base of the beak, and on the legs and feet.  Avian pox can be mistaken for conjunctivitis when the eyes are affected. "Growths" on the eye are typically from avian pox.

5. House Finch with pox lesion on eye and leg

6. House Finch with pox lesion on eye

Photo credits: All photographs courtesy of the Wildlife Pathology Unit Staff of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, except
photo 1, provided by Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Inc.,  Newark, DE,  1996, and photos 5 and 6, provided by a Project FeederWatch participant.