Mortality in robins (Turdus migratorius) due to avian malaria

Two juvenile robins (Turdus migratorius) died shortly after being captured in Baltimore, Maryland. Both had high erythrocytic parasitemias of mixed Plasmodium infections. Postmortem examination revealed large numbers of exo-erythrocytic malarial schizonts in the liver, spleen, lungs and brain of both cases. Avian malaria was considered the primary cause of death.