My 5-year-old cockatoo has flat spots. Are they normal or concerning?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely just a change in pigmentation and not necessarily abnormal. I recommend that you continue to monitor this and if at any point it becomes raised or she seems bothered by it, have her evaluated by your veterinarian. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These are likely patches of hyperpigmentation. However, continue to monitor them closely because sometimes skin cancer such as melanoma can start like that. If these ever become raised or seem to bother him or appear to be spreading, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check on it and sample to get a diagnosis. Best of luck!

It could be infection or irritation. You would need to have her physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to definitively diagnose this or other cause. Some birds will develop "stress bars" or spots on feathers when ill or when facing nutritional deficiency. Feather development is affected by an underlying cause resulting in darker coloration. It usually occurs in younger birds, but can happen in mature birds too.

It's hard to tell from the photo, but it could be a spot with new feathers coming in. If the area begins to bleed, worsens, swells or a cyst/blister forms in place of a feather, or it is bothersome to Kiwi, having a vet take a look in person is best. Otherwise, just keeping an eye on the spot for now if Kiwi is otherwise doing well and healthy is best.

It could be that the feathers just got bent as they were growing in, however if you are noticing other changes, or are concerned about Coqui's overall health, it is always best to schedule a veterinary exam. They can perform routine bloodwork to check for any nutritional issues and illnesses such as PBFB if you are concerned, or even check for more common problems such as parasites or skin infections, and at least give you some peace of mind regarding it. If he checks out healthy, it could just be a prolonged molt or result of simply being him. Continuing to provide a balanced diet (it seems like you already are), providing plenty of enriching toys to prevent boredom plucking.

Thanks for reaching out about Foring and including a photo. This appears to be a pigmentation change and might be associated with molting. Recommendations are to monitor for thickening, if appears to be bothering her, a veterinary visit should be scheduled. Application of pure aloe vera in a thin layer can provide some anti-inflammatory treatment and should be safe if a little is ingested. Good luck.

It's impossible to diagnose anything from a picture but I don't see anything obviously abnormal from your pictures. It's always a good idea to get a new pet exam done by an avian veterinarian when getting a new bird. Www.aav.com can help you find one Birds for Dummies by Brian Speer and Gina Spadafori is a great general resource for new bird owners for care and training. Good luck and have fun with your new friend. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.