Meyers parrot with red feathers?!

[Sandra]

I noticed that my Indy got red feathers on top of his head. Anyone knows if that is a concern? Or knows how come he got red feather? Here here a pic. Its kinda blurry but you still can see the red feather.

[Mygala]

I can't see the pic, but...

Not to worry...

It's not very common, but every now and then, in some birds, something kicks a protein into a new configuration, and an odd colored feather is produced... It has something to do with the right color not being made available to the feather.

I've seen a yellow feather appear in a sea of green on an amazon's breast...

Often, it's just a one time deal, won't repeat itself.

bob

[Sandra]

Thanks Bob. The pic is in my post. If you click on it, it will open. Thanks again for that info

[Mygala]

Sandra,

I can't see much more than a smudge on that pic. ...Sorry.

I do know that sometimes there are irregularities, particularly hormonal, that can cause coloration abnormalities. They are not that common.

If it continues to bug you, I'd ask your vet about it. But, unless there are other problems associated with it ...behavioral or health problems, I don't think I'd schedule a vet appointment just for this...

bob

[Jodi]

Like Bob said, I wouldn't worry. Toby had an odd orange feather on his leg once and once he moulted it out, it was replaced with the color is was *supposed* to be.

[thebigwoodgie]

Hi
Feathers are given their colours by the deposits of carotenoids, red and yellow pigments/lipochromes, found in plants and the fatty tissues of animals. Although the deposits are minute they are spread over the whole surface of the feathers creating the various shades. Carotenoids are the most widely distributed pigments in nature and are found in all parts of plants, even in the green parts, where they are overshadowed by the preponderance of green chlorophyll. Your guy probably added a minute amount of lysine to his diet by eating something that contains it. Lysine and a few other amino acids are involved in red coloration. No problem at all, just an odd feather coloring:-)
Have Fun,
Bill