What condition may be indicated by a hawk with a ruffled appearance?

A hawk with a ruffled appearance often signals discomfort or illness, which can be linked to specific health issues. The correct answer highlights the association with Aspergillosis and external parasites.

Aspergillosis is a fungal disease that affects the respiratory system of birds, causing symptoms such as ruffled feathers as the bird may become lethargic and exhibit difficulty breathing. The presence of external parasites, such as mites or ticks, can also cause the bird stress, leading to a ruffled appearance. This discomfort often prompts birds to puff up their feathers in an attempt to deal with the irritation caused by these external threats.

In contrast, internal parasites, while they can affect a bird’s health, may not necessarily present with a ruffled feather appearance. Coccidiosis primarily affects the digestive system and also has different symptomatology, which is not typically associated with ruffled feathers. Hence, the focus on Aspergillosis and external parasites aligns correctly with the typical signs observed in a hawk exhibiting a ruffled appearance.