Birds in this condition obviously have trouble feeding. You might see them staying on the ground, under the feeder, trying to find seeds. If the infected bird dies, it is usually not from the conjunctivitis itself, but rather from starvation, exposure, or predation as a result of not being able to see.
Avian pox is another common disease that affects a bird's eyes.
This disease causes warty lesions on the head, legs, and feet, but cannot always be easily distinguished from conjunctivitis. Just as with conjunctivitis, the infected bird becomes vulnerable to predation, starvation, or exposure. An example of avian pox. Photo by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Although infected birds have swollen eyes, the disease is primarily a respiratory infection.