GCC with random white spot & belly feathers shake often

Hi guys!

So my GCC, Avery, has even slowly regrowing her flight feathers. I bought her from a pet store about 7 months ago, and next month she'll be 1!

Anyways, as her flight feathers have been developing, I've noticed that they are incredibly dark around the edges. I know that this can be caused by over preening or a vitamin A deficiency, which I have been doing my best to prevent.
While Avery generally isn't picky, she absolutely hates carrots and is extremely hesitant to try sweet potatoe, so I often have to trick her by putting her favorite green peas mashed in so she'll try it... but apparently not to much avail. She does also love red peppers, so I shouldn't think it's a lack of vitamin A on my behalf, but is this not enough for her? She receives fresh veggies with some fruit in the morning (green peas, broccoli, some spinach but she doesn't like it much, and then some banana, apple, or kiwi) when she's super hungry and some more again after my supper time. I try to change it up and try a variety of safe fruits and veggies with her, so I'm aware I can combat the dark feathers eventually.

However... this white spot has me very concerned. I do have a vet appointment booked for her next month for a general check up and nail clipping, so I'll be sure to ask then, but I would like some feedback from you guys so I know how seriously I should take this. It's on her flight feather, and none of her other feathers have it. I do know some conures can have a pied background that results in white coloration, but I can't check her genetic history to find out. She has also been shaking her belly feathers constantly. I have the temperature in the room controlled and it is always around 70-74 degrees Fahrenheit. This double combination of feather discoloration and shaking (perhaps shivering?) makes me worried as she's my little baby. Normally when she's really happy she just does that typical conure fluff and shakes her tail feathers, so I'm not sure if it's a new behavioral characteristic or not.

Sorry for the long post! Thanks for reading my post and/or taking time to answer.

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I know sometimes it can be caused by their diet if deficient in certain vitamins/minerals. But it can be kidney problem too but she's a bit young yet to be having such problem as it usually occurs in older birds. Other then that I really don't think there's anything to be worried about. But please do tell the vet your concerns when you have a checkup done.

The white spot is probably the preening gland.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Gre...rdchannel.com%2FTopic180285-35-1.aspx;640;480

Yep, preening gland.

More pictures in this thread
http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/28735-need-advice-my-gcc.html

The white spot is most likely a mild vitamin deficiency(if you are referring to the white spot on the feather in the photo), my Green Cheek had exactly the same thing wrong with her when I got her. The black edges on the flight feathers are perfectly normal. The shaking sounds normal too. Is she on pellets? I suggest switching to a good pellet brand if she has a vitamin deficiency. I switched to Harrsions pellets and that fixed my Green Cheek's vitamin deficiency.

However, if you are referring to the the tiny white feather right above the tail, that is the preening gland, as others have said.

Yes, the white spots are due to preening gland.

The black edges and dots are due to not enough sleep. Conures should get 11 to 12 hrs of sleep everyday. They need a dark and quiet place to sleep every night. Lack of sleep can also lead to some behavioral issues.

lquan said:

The black edges and dots are due to not enough sleep.

Click to expand...

I did not know this! I swear, my sun conure gets 10 hours of sleep every night - sometimes 11, sometimes 9. I have not noticed the black edges or dots. Well... the tips of his longest tail feathers that are about to molt out can get black, but I've always thought it was from normal wear and tear.

Thanks for the responses! I do try to make sure that she has at least 12 hours of sleep. Unfortunately due to spacing issues in my home I can't provide her with her own bedroom, but she sleeps with my boyfriend and I. She's in bed by 8:30 PM every night as we have to be up and leave by that time in the morning.

As for the preening gland comments, I'm a bit confused as the spot is actually on the flight feather itself and not on the base above the tail where the gland is found. I'm assuming that as Frumpydumple has said, it's likely a vitamin issue if it isn't to do with the gland based on other responses as well. I will be sure to ask my vet! Especially since Google has little to nothing on it...

I do have Avery on Roudybush pellets with a small amount of Zupreem as I have been weaning her off of them. She came from the pet store on a seed diet and I had to switch her to something she would actually eat, and now we're almost completely Roudy and fresh fruits & veggies. I will try and make sure she gets more sleep, and perhaps I will invest in a cage just for her sleeping in a separate space so that she'll have 100% peace and quiet - hopefully that will rid of those pesky dark feathers! I would really love to see her bright, vibrant plumage unmarred.

Thanks once again for your responses! I feel much less stressed with your feedback.

It's not the preening gland!!! It's on the wing feathers, view the second photo as it is quite clear it is on the tip of the flight feather.

Her feathers look quite healthy to me! Yes, the white is abnormal, but I don't know that it's anything to worry about.


I say this because I've seen the same thing occur in sun conures.


Here's a sun conure with pretty normal flights.
Sun Conure | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

And here are some sun conures with white or yellow within their flights.
Nice Wingspan! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Conure | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Captain Christopher & Conures | Flickr - Photo Sharing!


And the black edges on the blue flights is pretty normal, too. This might actually help protect the feathers from damage in some way.
stretccccchhhh_1484 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Gracie & George explore freedom | Flickr - Photo Sharing!



Even my red and green conures with green flights have some "blackening" to their flights.

Hi guys, just wanted to update on my post to let everyone know about the vet visit. Like MonicaMC said, my vet told me she doesn't see it as anything to worry about. She said her feathers in general are healthy and that while the white spot is odd, it's the only white spot she has on her entire body and she doesn't feel that it's of any concern based on her health.

I also brought up the belly feathers shaking, and after discussing temperature (and knowing that it's at a good level), she thinks it's also nothing to worry about. She did tell me to keep a close eye on her though, just in case there are any changes in her behaviour, droppings, or eating habits... which I do every day anyways, haha! It's amazing how being a parront makes you exceptionally paranoid!

Thanks for all your responses and help, I really appreciate it! As does Avery

Good news! Glad she's ok!