Feral Pigeon Turning Her Head in a Weird Way?

[ante bozanich]

I've just seen a feral pigeon on my terrace turning her head in a weird circular motion to the side and then up in to the air. I think this indicates a serious illness from what I remember reading somewhere. I could not get her to come inside of my apartment. She flew away. I hope she comes back tomorrow. In the meantime I would appreciate if someone could point me to some info. in regards what I should do. Also, is this contagious to the other pigeons?

Thank you.

[Pidgey]

It could be the beginning of PMV (Paramyxovirus). There is a good thread about that here:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=12248

Pidgey

[John_D]

I concur with Pidgey.

That is often the first very obvious sign of PMV. Hopefully if she keeps coming back, you will catch her. After a while they become unable to fly well enough to escape. If you can get her, ensure she is isolated from any other pigeons.

John

[ante bozanich]

Thanks,

I was afraid it was not a good sign. I'll see what I can do tomorrow.

[ante bozanich]

I looked all day yesterday. I thought that she/he was one of my regulars, but that pigeon came in and ate. I could not see anything wrong with this bird. So ether I am mistaken and the pigeon with head circling symptoms was a different pigeon, or perhaps it was just a temporary thing. I'll keep my eyes open again today.

I do have another question, please. The feral pigeon who had pox-virus
( http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=23050 ) is fine now. Looking at his eye you can't tell that there was that huge growth ever there. However he is still with me. He flew away one day but came back. My whole apartment is his and yes that other female couple who keep laying one egg after the other in their nest are still with me.

Here is my question: I have noticed that his wings when he stands hang down bellow his chest at least one inch. All of the other pigeons that I've seen have their wings close to their body. Will this be a problem for him when he starts flying out there more often?

[Pidgey]

I don't suppose you could take and post a picture of that, could you (the wing drooping)? They usually don't do that unless something's wrong.

Pidgey

[ante bozanich]

Unfortunately, my new digital camera which I got as a present about a year ago is still in the box... besides then I have to learn how to use it. In the meantime I think it is easier for me to draw a quick picture and scan it. I think I'll do that as soon as I have some free time. But simply speaking his wings stay dropped about one inch or so bellow his torso line when he is standing.

[Pidgey]

"Torso line"? Well, let's try this: do the wings droop below the base of the tail? We sometimes use the term "lobster tail" to indicate a bird with abdominal discomfort. You have to think of a lobster with it's tail curved back under itself. A pigeon with "lobster tail" is usually standing slumped down horizontal to the ground with the base of it's tail seemingly humped up and the wings partly lowered or dragging.

Is that what you're seeing?

Pidgey

[ante bozanich]

I think so. He is standing really high right now so I can't look at him properly. But, yes, the base of his tail and all of his torso is definitely above his wings. The wings don't touch the ground but they are bellow normal position. Also, the end tips of his wings are above the end of his tail while the tail itself is humped down a little. Now... he's been like this since I rescued him which is three and a half month ago. Rehabbers have told me that he had poor stomach flora. I was giving him some greenish jell that they have given me for a short time but I've stopped.

[Pidgey]

Yeah, I know. Is there any chance this could be a hen? Let's try a couple of somethings for kicks and giggles... go feel your other birds that you know are fine. What you're looking for is to feel the taper of the body's back half between the legs and the tip of the tail (the body part, not the feathers). Feel the underlying bones and just the entire basic structure is.

Then, feel this bird and see if there is any sense of "fullness", solidity or heaviness in the back end that the other birds don't have.

Also, count the bird's respiration rate in breaths per minute. For a healthy adult pigeon in basic rest phase (not flying), it should be around 30 breaths per minute. You might be able to make the count based on the tail bobbing up and down but there are other ways.

Pidgey

[ante bozanich]

Sure he could be a hen. I was only guessing. I'll try what you're asking me to do tomorrow night. These birds are wild and loose and not very easy to catch. I am going to sleep now so I have to wait till it gets dark again.

[ante bozanich]

Hi Pidgey,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner with the answer.

By the way, I think the pigeon in question is he. This morning I saw him doing his cooing, stomping and going around dance.

The night before the last night I had thoroughly examined rear part of his body, between his legs and all. I did the same thing with the pigeon who has overgrown beak. I could not tell any difference.

Besides this wing dropping thing, I see no other sign of any health problem with him. So... the question still remains. With this problem, will he be able to fly well enough and survive out there on the streets of NYC?

[Matt D.]

Originally Posted by ante bozanich

With this problem, will he be able to fly well enough and survive out there on the streets of NYC?

If he didn't have a health problem would he be able to survive out there on the streets of NYC?

[GimpieLover]

Here is a link to a good video of the head movements of a pigeon who has Paramyxovirus just incase the one who had it returns, or just for future look outs.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UWC58llOBzQ

[ante bozanich]

The pigeon that you people had diagnosed as most likely having PMV disease is back and is right now eating at my terrace door. She/he will not come inside to eat from the tall plastic containers which I have set up for others but I have put some seeds at the door and she is eating. I have watched her for a while and her neck twisting into the sky looks definitely like the video which GimpieLove had posted above for PVM symptoms. Good thing is that she can pluck onto the seeds and can eat as I am watching her right now. I am hoping that she is getting better and is going to make it.