Reminder: this is a repost sub. I am not OOP

Originally posted to r/Ornithology by u/CountingCrowz

Ornithology is the study of birds, this subreddit aims to talk about wild birds in a scientific capacity

Content warning: mentions of animal cruelty

Original: January 31, 2026 
Update: February 8, 2026 

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"What kind of dye is this?"

Photo of several birds eating bird seed, one of which is dyed green

31/JAN/26: INTRO

* This is done INTENTIONALLY by HUMANS! Please do not brainstorm other possibilities.*

I have a flock of 50 silverbills that visit every day. 

Yesterday I got one colored pink. Today 1 yellow and 1 green.

Some sick idiot is catching them and coloring them.

Is this dye harmful for the birds? Can i remove it?

Thanks fellow bird lovers!

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COMMENTS

LobeliaTheCardinalis

>This happens when birds, usually munias like this, are caught and sold in markets as pets or little toys for kids to play with. It's more often done to scaly breasted munias. They're dunked in dye and sold in little cages. These ones managed to escape.

OOP

>These look a lot like silverbills.

>Not the case here Lobelia.

>EDIT: Looks like might be the case.

LobeliaTheCardinalis 

>[https://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/10/24/science/27number/27number-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp\](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/10/24/science/27number/27number-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp)

>The birds are dyed these colors with a sprayed on paint.

(Editors note: image depicts 4 cages, each filled with birds, and each spray painted different colours (pink, green, yellow) and a man in the background)

LobeliaTheCardinalis 

>They're indian silverbills, also a munia, the practice is the same down to the exact shades of dye on the birds.  Most of the dyed birds will succumb in a few days even if they get away. They are much more likely to be killed by predators.

OOP

>Damn! Thanks.

>Here there are some clues. These birds are part of the flock coming to my balcony many years. I can see from their behavior. For example, colored birds will come close to door when I am approaching. New birds / babies will not do that.

>There is also another point. All 3 different colors. It looks like they were intentionally done like this and released.

>But I see your point. I think I will need to escalate this to wildlife agency.

>Leaving aside predators, in your opinion, is the paint itself harmful to the birds?

LobeliaTheCardinalis 

>I can’t say without knowing what the dye is

OOP

>Thanks Lobelia. Assuming they are pet shops, they would not want the birds to die on kids purchasing them. Their parents would create problems for the shops.

>Would this be a logical line of thinking?

LobeliaTheCardinalis 

>In southeast asia where this practice is most common, the birds are sold as temporary pets or toys that kids buy and play with for a day or two, intended to die and be replaced. May be different where you are.

OOP

>Fucking awful. 

>I have not seen any colored birds here at any time in any pet shops or anywhere. I will inquire some more this week to see if I can purchase some colored ones from somewhere.

>You have been great help, I added your post to my original comment because I think this is what it is. I have to escalate this to animal cruelty agencies.

More context from OOP

>Many thanks. Silverbills are not pets and not sold anywhere.

>These are also not new birds. They know my balcony. One day all of a sudden one was colored pink. Next day 2 more yellow and green.

>I don't think wildlife agency will do anything. 

>I can catch these birds. If I leave my balcony door open, they enter my house. Is there anything I can do to remove the dyes?

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>How do you suggest I approach this?

>"I am feeding birds which is against HOA rules and carries $100 municipality fine. But come and investigate?"

>It is also not a developed nation. They removed crow nests and I could not get them take any action despite federal wildlife laws state it carries penalties.

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Update 0.5 added to beginning of post

01/FEB/26: CLOSING Up

Many thanks to all the nice folks who spent their time for me and diagnosed it. Appreciated. Apologies if I offended any of you.

This looks like disposable bird trading. I will escalate this to authorities. I will keep you all updated.

Some bad news: Only PINK silverbill is showing up.

YELLOW/GREEN no more. Mofos

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"Update to colored SILVERBILLS" (a week later)

Photo of several birds eating bird seed, one of which is dyed pink

PINK showing up every day. Healthy. 

GREEN came only once since then. Today after 10 days. Healthy. 

YELLOW came twice. But 2nd time today there were 2 yellows. So I don't know if they are the same. Both looked healthy.

I myself could not purchase these birds from any pet shops. They don't have them, colored or not. They don't know where to find them. Since l'am a regular client with these shops, I don't think they suspected anything. 

Could not get anywhere with authorities. In fact. I was about to get scammed for donations :) 

I talked with some experienced vets. They all suggested what you wrote already: Gender reveal, bird trade to kids, migratory flock pattern, coloring from egg, etc. One thing additional was suggested: antibiotics 

Many thanks for all the help.

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COMMENTS

shittykitty329

>Great detective work! I’m glad to see they’re at least not affected by the dye. So the total count is only 3, right? Had you made any next door or Facebook posts in your area asking about these dyed birds?

OOP

>Yes, thankfully so far dye does not seem to have affected these. 

>I asked head gardener in community. He has not seen any colored birds. Ever.

>Initially it was 3.

>1st day PINK. 2nd day YELLOW and GREEN. 3rd day all 3 was around.

>Pink stayed. Others gone.

>YELLOW: Came once on day 5 and 10.

>GREEN: Came once on day 10.

>NEW YELLOW: Came along with other yellow on day 10.

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Bli-munda

>Your story reminded me of something. Are there any nearby food or other factories?

>https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/s/JNm5A22Wpm

>https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/french-bees-are-making-mm-contaminated-blue-and-green-honey-63756956/

(Editors note: Links to Reddit post and a Smithsonian article regarding Bees producing blue honey, found they were visiting M&M factory.)

OOP

>3 birds perfectly colored to 3 different colors. No overspray or partial coloring on other members of flock. Done intentionally by humans.

Bli-munda

>Very sad and it wouldn’t surprise me. Do you remember that case in Vegas where pigeons were showing up with glue-on mini cowboy hats on their heads? 😡😭

>I hope your birds survive without any side effects!

OOP

>Despicable people.

>Thanks for well-wishes. So far so good. I was really thinking green died after not showing up for 10 days.

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Reminder: I am not OOP. Do not comment on original posts.