BLOOD FEATHER
CERES
CHROMOSOMES
CITES
CLOACAL VENT
CLOSED-BAND
COVERTS/COVERT
FEATHERS
CROP
CROP STASIS
DIMORPHIC
FEATHER SEXING
Any feather which still has a blood supply to it.
The firm, fleshy bond lying across the base of the beak of birds. Most
obvious in the pigeon as a white, saddle-like object. The cere is blue in
male budgerigars and light brown to pink in females, so offering a
convenient means of sexing these birds. The color may fade in males with
testicular tumors.
A male bird has two Z(sex)chromosomes and a female one Z and one W.
These can be seen under a microscope and are used in chromosome
analysis to determine the sex of the bird. (See KARYOTYPING)
(C)onvention on (I)nternational (T)rade in (E)ndangered (S)pecies. This
body regulates trade of parrots throughout various countries. Most parrots
are on CITES Appendix 2, which means that the country that is exporting
the birds may only issue export permits if the exportation of the bird does
not endanger the survival of the species. Extremely rare and threatened
species go on appendix I, which means any sort of exportation is explicitly
forbidden and illegal. Palm Cockatoos and Hyacinthine Macaws are an
example of CITES Appendix I birds. As of this last update, importation of
Amazon parrots has stopped completely (Appendix I status).
The external opening to the cloaca. Comparable to the anus in mammals.
A completely closed ring of metal that can only be put on a bird within a
certain time, usually from 8-10 days in a small bird and up to four weeks in
the larger species of birds. The bands are usually imprinted with hatch date
and place of origin. They are generally accepted as proof of domesticity
and age. However, some unscrupulous people may force a closed-band
onto an imported bird. Look for a band that seems too big. (See OPENBAND)
Sets of feathers covering other feathers. For example, the wing-coverts are
the feathers right above the wing feathers. They cover the base of the
flight feathers to provide a smoother surface for the air to flow over.
Also referred to as croup or craw is a thin-walled expandable, muscular
pouch of the alimentary tract used for the storage of food prior to
digestion. The crop is near the gullet or throat.
Crop stasis is a condition in which the crop fails to empty at a normal rate.
Crop stasis is similar to a clogged drain, where the sink fills up with water.
Just as the problem is not the sink, but the drain, most cases of crop stasis
is caused by disease in the lower intestinal tract, not the crop itself.
Obstruction of the intestinal tract at any point can also prevent food from
moving. If the bird continues to eat (or is force fed) in the face of
gastrointestinal tract obstruction or disruption of peristalsis, food will
eventually back up into the crop.
There are many causes of crop stasis. A few of the most common include:
 Obstruction – ingested foreign objects or neoplasia (tumors)
 Viral diseases –especially Avian Bornavirus (Proventricular
Dilatation Disease) and, in young birds, Polyomavirus
 Bacterial infection - occurring anywhere in the intestinal tract
 Fungal infection - in the crop or proventriculus
 Metabolic diseases – liver disease, pancreatitis
 Toxins – especially heavy metals such as lead or zinc
 Improper feeding formula – in young, unweaned birds
A species is said to be dimorphic when there are distinct visual
characteristics between the sexes. Gray Cockatiels are an example of this;
the male bird has a bright yellow head. Eclectics’ are also dimorphic; the
male bird is green, and the female, red. Eclectics’ are unusual in that the
female is more colorful than the male. This is called "Reverse
Dimorphism". (See MONOMORPHIC)
(See KARYOTYPING)
FLEDGLING
HAND-FED
KARYOTYPING
KEEL
LORES
MANTLE
MONOMORPHIC
NARES
OCCIPUT
PARROT FEVER
PBFD
PREEN GLAND
PSITTACINES
PSITTACOSIS
PYGOSTYLE
QUARANTINE
RECTRICES
REMIGES
SYRINX
A baby bird that is out of the nest, but not eating by itself.
Also "Hand-reared" or "Hand-raised". The babies are taken from parents at
about two weeks, and then fed by people, using spoons, pipettes or
syringes and a special baby-bird formula. This results in a bonding of the
bird to people, and a friendlier, tame bird.
A method of sexing which is non-invasive. A drop of blood is taken from
the bird, usually by pulling out a blood feather. The pulp and blood from
the feather is then cultured until there are enough cells to do a
chromosome preparation. The number of chromosomes then is looked at
to determine the sex of the bird. (See SURGICAL SEXING)
The ventrally directed large surface of the bird's sternum, the site of
attachment of the major muscles of flight. Called also carina.
The area between beak and eyes.
The whole back, combined with the top surface of the wings.
Both sexes of the bird appear identical. (See DIMORPHIC)
The nostrils; the external openings of the nasal cavity.
Together with the quadrates, the opisthotics and various dermal bones, the
bones of the occiput form the back of a bird's skull.
(See PSITTACOSIS, ZOONOSES)
(P)sittacine (B)eak and (F)eather (D)isease. A serious viral disease which is
highly contagious. There is no cure. PBFD causes deformed feathers which
eventually fall out, the beak softens and becomes misshapen, and affects
many of the internal organs. Birds usually die from a secondary infection.
The virus can be spread through the feces and feather dust and can be
found in the birds' crop as well. It can affect several different species of
birds, but is most common among Cockatoos.
Also known as the Uropygial Gland or Oil Gland; located just above the tail.
Belonging to the family Psittacidae, which includes the parrots, macaws,
and parakeets. Birds widely distributed in tropical regions and having a
distinctive stout curved cered hooked bill whose upper mandible is
movably hinged to the skull. Parrots are often crested and highly
variegated and are excellent mimics. They often readily learn to simulate
laughter and crying and to enunciate words and phrases. (Webster, 3d ed)
A curable bacterial disease that can affect BOTH humans and birds. It's
also called "Parrot Fever", "Chlamydiosis", and "Ornithosis". Psittacosis is
spread through inhalation of feather and fecal dust. Bacterial tests are
used to detect it. The disease manifests itself with flu-like symptoms in
people. Infected birds are quarantined (isolated) and treated with
Tetracycline or another broad-spectrum antibiotic.
A bony termination of the vertebral column in birds formed by fusion of the
last four to eight spinal vertebrae. Called also plowshare bone or rump
post. The tail feathers are attached to its fascia so that it is very important
in flight.
It is recommended that sick and/or newly acquired birds be held in
quarantine before being introduced to an existing flock of birds (either pets
or breeders).
The long tail feathers – they help a bird brake and steer in flight. They are
in a single horizontal row on the rear margin of the tail.
Large flight feathers on the wings – responsible for supporting the bird
during flight. The outer remiges are referred to as the primaries (longest
wing feathers). These are the largest, thinnest and stiffest of the flight
feathers. The inner remiges – called the secondaries (shorter, upper “arm”
feathers) - are attached to the “forearm” (ulna) of a bird.
This is the sound producing vocal organ of birds, located at the base of the
bird’s trachea. The syrinx enables some species of birds to produce
extremely complex vocalizations. The syrinx can produce more than one
SINCIPUT
SUPERCILLIUM
SUPRALORAL LINE
SURGICAL SEXING
UNDERTAIL
COVERTS
VENT
WEANED
ZOONOSES
sound at a time.
The upperpart of the skull and it includes the forehead and the crown
Also commonly referred to as "eyebrow" and is the stripe which starts
above the bird's loral area (area between beak and eyes), continuing above
the eye, and finishing somewhere towards the rear of the bird's head.
A Stripe that is present only above the lores (the region between the eye
and bill on the side of the bird’s head) and does not continue behind the
eye.
Also abbreviated as S.S. or S/S. Since many bird species are
monomorphic, one way to tell one bird from the other is to do it surgically,
using a method called laparoscopy. The bird is anesthetized, and a small
slit is cut into the bird's abdomen. The laparoscope is inserted, allowing
the vet to view the reproductive organs, thus sexing the bird.
Feathers around the vent.
SEE CLOACAL VENT
The bird is out of the nest, and eating on its own. In hand-fed birds the bird
is no longer on baby formula and eating seeds and other solids.
A zoonosis (singular) is any disease of animals that can be contracted by a
human being. There are over 100 known diseases of this type. One of the
most widely publicized is Psittacosis (See PSITTACOSIS).