CNS 899

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris female ad
3 March 2003 Sdr. Bjert, (55.27N 09.34E)
killed by window collision.

Greenfinch head without skin.

Greenfinch skull with a depressed fracture.

The two photos clearly show a depressed fracture of the skull where the wound is old and the braincase already grown together with a little rise around the fracture, most visible nearest the bill, however, the upper photo show that the wound still isn’t quite healed. After my very best knowledge there have been no other example in the literature where a bird has survived such a serious accident in the wild. Click on images for larger size.

Complementary information:
The fracture measured 10.0 x 7.8mm and the skull is fully ossified. Weight 27.981g and the brain 0.789g, which is normal for females, average 0.832g, range 0.600-1.050 (n = 20) (own obs.).

There was 0.612g food in the gizzard. Ovary 7.1 x 3.1 in development, spleen 0.023g, which is surprising because it is also within the normal range, average 0.023g, range 0.009-0.046g (n = 9) (own obs). There was one fault bar on the same place on all primaries and secondaries = a 2nd calendar bird .

Reference:

Brandwood, A., A. S. Jayes, & R. McN. Alexander. 1986: Incidence of healed fracture in the skeletons of birds, molluses and primates. J. Zool. London (A) 208: 55-62.

Wokac, R. M. 1990: Verheilte Franturen an Skeletten europäischer Wildvogelarten. Okol. Vögel 12: 175-203.