Fleshy white lump on my green cheek conure

[Scooter]

I have a 4 year old conure that i adotped a couple weeks ago. while he was fluffed up i notice that he has what looks to be a fleshy bright white lump/bubble/wart thing on his back just above his tail feathers. it looks close to centered on his back... its about the size of the tip of my smallest finger. is this normal?

 

[Pedro]

Don't worry that would be an preen glan.

preen gland, also called Uropygial, or Oil, Gland, in birds, an organ located on the back near the base of the tail. Paired or in two united halves, it is found in most birds. Absent in ostrich, emu, cassowary, bustard, frogmouth, and a few other birds, the oil gland is best-developed in aquatic species, notably petrels and pelicans, and in the osprey and oilbird. The secretions of the preen gland empty to the skin surface through one or more nipplelike pores. Most birds preen by rubbing their bill and head over the preen gland pore and then rubbing the accumulated oil over the feathers of the body and wings and the skin of the legs and feet. The oil is thought to help preserve the integrity of feather structure and, in some species, is also believed to be useful in preserving the horny structure of the bill and the scales of the legs and feet. It has also been speculated that, in at least some species, the oil contains a substance that is a precursor of vitamin D. This precursor substance is thought to be converted to vitamin D by the action of sunlight and then absorbed through the skin. Many ornithologists maintain that the function of the preen gland differs among various species of birds.

 

[Scooter]

ahhh. what a relief. lol. i kinda of feel silly now but im happy i know what it is. is it sapose to look bright white? it sorta looks...dry. but i havent touched it only seen it from a distance

 

[Pedro]

You shouldn't really be able to see it as it's usually covered by feathers. If you are at all worried about it get the vets opinion.

 

[Scooter]

i can only see it when he fluffs his feathers. he is happy and seems very healthy so im sure i have nothing to worrie about. i was just shocked a bit by it becaue i had never seen one before. after looking at pictures online im confident he is fine