Blackbird....old age , illness or what???

[Box Brownie]

We have a regular pair of blackbirds and this year the male showed up with a wonky leg that I think might have affected his ability to mate!

However, over about the past 6-8 weeks we have noticed a progressive change in his condition. At the start he looked like his head feathers were showing as leucistic?

But no, he has been going bald and he also lost some tail feathers. And his overall plumage is not looking that great!

A phone snapshot through the kitchen window shows him now.

Note, he is drinking, bathing & foraging fine.


His bald head reminds me of a Vulture.

 

[Gav.]

Probably mite related.

 

[Norkie]

So sad to see, we often see the same symptoms in blackbirds in our garden. As Gav said, most likely a mite of some sort.