Published: Wednesday, 1st July, 2009 9:00am

What an odd beak you have...

by Ali Powell

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CAVERSHAM residents have been busy caring for this unusual looking blackbird.

People have been feeding the bird, seen in Balmore Park in Hemdean Road, Caversham, after spotting its deformed beak.

Chronicle photographer Chris Forsey, who took this picture of the bird, said: 'I"ve seen this before in starlings but never in a blackbird. Local residents have been throwing bread out for it and it eats and drinks normally. When I first saw it, I thought it looked like it was carrying a twig in its beak. The residents have taken it under their wing, so to speak.'

The Chronicle showed RSPB experts the photo who told us that it"s not that uncommon and can be caused by injury, disease or genetic defect.

Lee Hollingsworth, wildlife adviser, said: 'Birds whose bills become gradually deformed have time to adapt to their disability - which seems to be the case here - whereas those who suffer a sudden fracture may find it more difficult.

'Feeding can obviously become a problem, and many birds with elongated or broken bills will use the sides of their bill instead of the tip. Some birds with elongated bills may find themselves in an advantage over others of their kind, as they are able to probe deeper into crevices to extract food. This blackbird may even find it easier to dig out worms than other normal-billed blackbirds!'