Probably a really stupid question... but I'm asking anyway!

[Halo]

OK So when we got the first fidlet, Diddle, I was petting him and found a spot right above his tail on his back. I freaked out and kept an eye on it but it never did anything so I forgot about it until the other day when I saw the same spot on Lilly's back. Just now when I was looking at pics of someone else's greys, I saw it on them too. So it has to be something normal like an oil gland or something I'm just too stupid to know about right? LOL

[KimM]

That gland is right at the base of their tail. Is that maybe what you are seeing? And no such thing as a stupid question. I just learned that about my macaws this year from my AV.

[Halo]

Yep... right where their tail feathers go into their backside... just above that. I was freaked out at first but figured if all the birds have it, it's got to be something that is supposed to be there.

Thank you. I've researched my birds eating habits, traits, and all that stuff but never came across the "butt bump" lol

[Monica]

Caique and GC 'preen glands'...









The white feather is the 'wick' of the preen gland. The preen gland excretes oil that then covers the white feather, and the birds use that oil to spread on their feathers. Now, there is actually a bit of skin and flesh that is the actual preen gland, and is a "bump" of sorts. Someone has taken pics of what a normal preen gland should look like on a Moluccan, and what it looks like impacted, on an Umbrella. The first three are the M2's, and the rest are the U2's...

M2mom/preen gland - Page 1 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

[Luisa]

Wow great clear picture Monica!

[Halo]

Thank you so much for the pics Monica... I really really appreciate it!