Birdy question

[Danny McG]

I'm currently reading The Mercy of Gods by James Corey and one of the characters has said this about finches, I've had a look online but can't see much, is it correct? And why would the birds do that?

“Finches,” Campar said. “Lovely to look at, pretty to listen to, but if they get sick they keep it hidden until they drop over dead"

 

[CupofJoe]

Never look weak to a potential predator.

 

[HareBrain]

Never look weak to a potential predator.

There might be something in that, but it wouldn't prevent a sick bird hiding itself away in undergrowth. I wonder if it's more that small animals with fast metabolisms succumb to illness very quickly, especially if requirements of food intake etc mean they have to keep active however they feel, and wear themselves out. This would be especially true in autumn/winter when they're flocking and don't want to be left behind.

In any case, I doubt it's specific to finches.

Another question that's just occurred to me, though: why do you never find the bodies of birds that die of old age, but you do if they die of e.g. avian flu?

 

[Foxbat]

Another question that's just occurred to me, though: why do you never find the bodies of birds that die of old age, but you do if they die of e.g. avian flu?

Apparently, most don't live long enough to die of old age.

Where Do Birds Go to Die? | How Do Birds Die? | Earth Life

Where Do Birds Go to Die? In this article, I will attempt to give you all the details you need to understand where dead birds disappear.

earthlife.net

From the article:
It is extremely rare for a bird to die of purely old age in the wild.
The reason is that as their body weakens, it is often afflicted by diseases or makes it easier for predators to attack them.
However, in rare cases, birds do die of old age.

 

[Vertigo]

I'm currently reading The Mercy of Gods by James Corey and one of the characters has said this about finches, I've had a look online but can't see much, is it correct? And why would the birds do that?

“Finches,” Campar said. “Lovely to look at, pretty to listen to, but if they get sick they keep it hidden until they drop over dead"

Bearing in mind that many people keep finches as pets (and that includes canaries) I suspect it is referencing a pet finch dying unexpectedly with very little forewarning. I did see this comment on a page about keeping finches; "You can’t afford to delay, as many sick birds head towards death with alarming speed."

 

[Snicklefritz]

In the wild here in US we unfortunately witness the progression of House Finch eye disease. Indeed, I've participated in several citizen science studies of this. Salmonellosis is another sickness we see as it happens.

 

[Dave]

Bearing in mind that many people keep finches as pets (and that includes canaries) I suspect it is referencing a pet finch dying unexpectedly with very little forewarning. I did see this comment on a page about keeping finches; "You can’t afford to delay, as many sick birds head towards death with alarming speed."

I agree with Vertigo that the comment probably concerns dead caged birds. However, "Old Age" isn't really a disease, and you do see dead birds on the ground in the wild from diseases other than Avian Flu, or from injuries (like flying into windows, fences and pylons) or from gunshots. I've also seen birds that were clearly sick and dying on the ground (but that most likely was Avian Flu.) I do expect that a bird will hang on to a branch or perch as long as it possibly can, because most (in Europe anyway) are vulnerable to predators on the ground but safer in trees and on cliffs.)

 

[THX1138]

In the wild here in US we unfortunately witness the progression of House Finch eye disease. Indeed, I've participated in several citizen science studies of this. Salmonellosis is another sickness we see as it happens.

We participate in a citizen science bird count, and they are asking us to identify any House Finch's with an eye disease in the count as well.

 

[Danny McG]

We participate in a citizen science bird count, and they are asking us to identify any House Finch's with an eye disease in the count as well.

Yeah right! As if birds carry ID

 

[THX1138]

You got me there!
That's if they stay still long enough for us to see if there is any growth around their eyes.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Yeah right! As if birds carry ID

Well around here, they have engraved feathers in tiny wallets tucked under their left wing.

 

[Harpo]

Yeah right! As if birds carry ID

Swallows do

 

[Overread]

I'm currently reading The Mercy of Gods by James Corey and one of the characters has said this about finches, I've had a look online but can't see much, is it correct? And why would the birds do that?

“Finches,” Campar said. “Lovely to look at, pretty to listen to, but if they get sick they keep it hidden until they drop over dead"

In fairness you can say this about a LOT of animals. Basically if you look weak and injured then you're vulnerable and being vulnerable puts you at risk. Predators might hunt you; potential competing individuals of your own species might threaten you or try to take your territory. There's also a fear factor of being afraid to show weakness.
Humans do this all the time; even in countries with free healthcare you still get people who will hide that they are ill or pretend to themselves that they aren't as bad as it feels etc...

Another layer is that many animals communicate using bodylanguage and this can often be very subtle. It might be something as small as a tiny limp; favouring one side over another; being more lethargic etc... Things that you could easily write off as "oh the dog's just getting old and pants a bit more" whilst it might be that the dog is in serious pain from a sickness.
Basically many creatures communicate in a different way which can appear like they are masking their condition to those who are not very experienced who care for them. Very small animals that can often die to sickness very quickly can do this very "fast" whilst a larger animal like a dog or cat might go through a long enough period of reduced performance that eventually you do notice it.


Which is a long, rambling way so that you likely won't find this quote or information specifically about finches, but as a general animal rule.
Also note that in many fields a lot of things are not always written down; or they are its in obscure rather than common books (and many common books are often repeats of others). So what might be well known to those who keep finches and is passed around the finch keeping community by word of mouth and "oh yeah you want that 1950s book on finches that isn't published any more as that's the golden grail of info"; might be almost unknown to the internet.