CAUSES OF DEATH OF WILD BIRDS OF THE FAMILY FRINGILLIDAE IN BRITAIN

The provision of supplementary food for wild birds in gardens during t he winter months is common in the UK, but it is possible that it may p recipitate infectious diseases in the birds. This paper describes the results of postmortem examinations of 116 wild finches carried out ove r a period of four years. The two commonest causes of death in areas w here high mortality had been reported were infections with the bacteri a Salmonella typhimurium DT40 and Escherichia coli O86, Coccidia of th e genera Atoxoplasma or Isospora were found in several of the birds bu t were considered to be incidental. Megabacteria were also identified in some of the birds, for the first time in necks of wild birds in the UK, but they were not considered to be significant.