KNEMIDOCOPTES SP ON WILD PASSERINES AT THE MAI PO NATURE-RESERVE, HONG-KONG

Free-ranging passerine birds banded at the Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong, were affected with a skin disease characterized by crusty, prol iferative lesions on legs, feet and beaks. Based on retrospective exam ination of 1990 to 1992 banding records, 83 of 16,353 birds and 5 of 1 61 species banded at Mai Po were identified as having these lesions. E urasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) were most commonly affected (5 8 of 411 birds) although 19 of 428 black-faced buntings (Emberiza spod ocephala), 1 of 43 little buntings (Emberiza pusilla), 3 of 92 spotted doves (Streptopelia chinensis), and 2 of 616 eastern great reed warbl ers (Acrocephalus orientalis) also had clinical signs of infestation. Adult Eurasian tree sparrows were affected more often than juveniles a nd males were affected more often than females. Lesions on juveniles u sually were on the feet while on adults lesions also were found on leg s and beak. The effects of this parasitic infestation on body weight o f wild Eurasian tree sparrows was not significant.