Doomed pigeon?

[Simpo Two]

There was a pigeon sitting on my lawn this morning, just sitting there on its own, not moving. It seemed very calm and let me get right up to it - which was when I noticed lumps on its beak. I put out a small piece of bread, and bacon fat, but no interest.

It disappeared for a while but has just come back. I put out some water but no interest. It looks tatty and has a couple of flies bothering it, and is now just sitting quietly by a wall under a grapevine.



I suspect nature will take its course soon and I don't think I can do much more than bury it in due course, but I wondered what was wrong with it.

[Turn7]

Likely to be flu.....

[Fermit]

Are the lumps soft and squishy? Asking as we found a pigeon, which we took an (all) animal rescue place near us. the lady who took him said he was a baby/young, and could tell by these, as they harden as they mature.

[Simpo Two]

Turn7 said:

Likely to be flu.....

I hadn't thought of that - presumably avian flu? Does it make lumps?

I haven't touched the lumps - if I get closer than a few inches it shies away. But they're not symmetrical; as well as the ones in the photo there are three yellowish ones on the left side of its beak about 4mm across.

It doesn't seem able to spread its wings, and walks very slowly, sometimes stumbling forwards

[Silvanus]

That looks like an immature wood pigeon, looks like some young feathers still visible and hasn't developed a white neck band. Can't really see the lumps very well, but avian pox can cause lumps on the head and beak.

[paintman]

Pigeon Pox?
http://www.pigeonrescue.sirtobyservices.com/common...

[Simpo Two]

Here's a better photo:

[Silvanus]

Simpo Two said:

Here's a better photo:

That looks like pigeon (avain) pox for sure

[Fermit]

Simpo Two said:

Here's a better photo:

The two lumps I mentioned are visible directly behind the big brown lump. I'm pretty sure that's a young bird. Pigeon Pox often just clears itself up.

[Simpo Two]

I feel very sorry for him/her. Just sitting there, very still, in the middle of the lawn. It doesn't seem in any pain but how would I know. There's nothing I can do so I just hope he/she goes peacefully soon. The flies seem to know, hanging around like little vultures.

The other new sight in my garden (first sighting yesterday) is a couple of squirrels, raiding the nut tree. Could they have turfed the pigeon out of its nest?

[Simpo Two]

This morning I opened the patio door and spied a small grey lump on the ground behind the garden bench. Mr (or Miss) Pigeon was peacefully slumped into the cool grassy moss and quite dead. So before breakfast I set out with a spade and returned him to the ground from which he came. RIP pigeon.

[moorx]

Poor thing.