(a) Deposition of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) onto bird feeders increased with pathogen load in the eyes of experimentally infected house finches, but ambient temperature did not influence this relationship. (b) Even when controlling for temperature, pathogen load, mass and foraging behaviours, deposition increased with the severity of eye lesions (c) but not with food consumption. Lines: predictions from (a) a general additive mixed model and (b,c) linear mixed model. Shading: ±1 s.e. around predictions.