Frozen Toes
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I shot a golden-crowned sparrow the other day near Palo Alto that shows a curious mutilation of the feet. The outer toe of each foot is thickened and gnarled so that the joints can hardly be distinguished. A stump of the bone or claw protrudes at the tip. The whole thing reminded me of the way chickens’ toes look after being frost-bitten. The sparrow, as shown by the skull, was of a last years’ brood, and might have tarried in its northern home last fall until a hard freeze set in. I have seen similar scars on birds ’ feet before, but I can’t just now remember what species. Perhaps someone can suggest a more reasonable explanation.
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Grinnell, Joseph
(1903)
"Frozen Toes,"
Condor: Vol. 5
:
Iss.
1
, Article 21.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/condor/vol5/iss1/21