Never seen a bird so messy any one have Ideas why/

[lock65]

This bird has been hanging around the last couple weeks since the Red Pols left. I have never seen a bird in the state this one is in . What a bad hair day .Any one have any ideas as to what it is and why.

[thouc]

Might be a House Finch. I could only guess what has happened, could be some disease or parasites.

[newfoundlander61]

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/hofi/

[lock65]

Thanks Paul .That is what I figured, sad that these poor birds must endure this type of disease.

[Rob'in'To]

The beak doesn't look like a House Finch to me (I'm viewing this from my mobile, small screen).  And regarding the Finch disease, being a participant with Project Feederwatch for a number of years now; I believe its only an eye disease they get (we are asked if any House Finches are seen with the disease) which is nasty, and fatal as the crust builds over the eyes.  I had a female one here a few years back with the eye disease and it was sad to watch her fumble around the feeder, trying to land on a perch to feed (she could barely see).  A Sharp-shinned Hawk got her later in the day which was a nice quick death compared to eventual blindness and starving to death.  I took down all my feeders, dumped the seed, and washed them all with a bleach mix to stop the spread.

This bird looks like a Redpoll to me from my small screen and no way is that the House Finch eye disease I am familiar with. No idea what the heck is up with this bird.  Are you still seeing it?