Mycoplasmal Conjunctivitis

This female house finch has been around my yard for the last three weeks. She is suffering from "House Finch Eye Disease" , a respiratory infection caused by a unique strain of the bacterium Mycoplasma gallisepticuma. Although the disease has also been known to infect American Goldfinch and the Downy Woodpecker, the "Hollywood Finch" seems to be the primary victim. According to Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology:

Because today’s eastern House Finch populations originated entirely from a small number of released birds, they are highly inbred, exhibit low genetic diversity and, may therefore be more susceptible to disease than other bird species native to the East.

Cornell is conducting a survey to track the spread of the disease. The infection poses no known threat to humans and had not been reported in songbirds prior to the mid 1990's. Last year the disease again reached epidemic proportions. Keep your eyes open for infected birds at your feeders. Read the FAQ to find out what to do if you see mycoplasmal conjunctivitis in your yard.