Slight beak discolouration, should I be worried?

[BlueGold]

Hey everyone,

Over the last few months I have noticed my macaws beak towards the bottum is slightly discoloured to white. I spoke to a macaw breeder and he said many of his are like that and I should not be worried. But I really want to get second opinions. She just turned 3 in November. She is behaving regularly and eating regularly. I have attached some images. please tell me what you think. Thanks a lot everyone

 

[SailBoat]

I am assuming that you are speaking about the upper beak at and near the pointy end. The lightening you are seeing has much to do with the loss of some surface coloration. Color in the beak is not continuous nor is it consistent in all layers. The point of a beak being the thinest and oldest area can appear to become lighter in color when it is more an issue of distribution of color.

As your Parrot uses the Beak, it is continuously worn away. This can result in variations of the amount of pigmentation and with fewer layers, less color.

I hope that this helps!

 

[LordTriggs]

ol' Boats pretty much summed things up with a full explanation there!

Just looks like they've been using their beak a bit which is the norm

 

[Kiwibird]

Looks like a nice healthy beak to me! Their beaks can be somewhat mottled in color and the "flaking" is normal too. Their beaks are somewhat like a big fingernail and are constantly growing/wearing down.

 

[Cthebird]

Looks like a healthy beak to me, too. Pretty girl.

 

[LordTriggs]

just want to say I love that picture on the bottom left!

 

[BlueGold]

I am assuming that you are speaking about the upper beak at and near the pointy end. The lightening you are seeing has much to do with the loss of some surface coloration. Color in the beak is not continuous nor is it consistent in all layers. The point of a beak being the thinest and oldest area can appear to become lighter in color when it is more an issue of distribution of color.

As your Parrot uses the Beak, it is continuously worn away. This can result in variations of the amount of pigmentation and with fewer layers, less color.

I hope that this helps!

ol' Boats pretty much summed things up with a full explanation there!

Just looks like they've been using their beak a bit which is the norm

Looks like a healthy beak to me, too. Pretty girl.

Looks like a nice healthy beak to me! Their beaks can be somewhat mottled in color and the "flaking" is normal too. Their beaks are somewhat like a big fingernail and are constantly growing/wearing down.

just want to say I love that picture on the bottom left!

Thank you all very much!

 

[DiscoDuck]

i've wondered.. are the layers similar like tree rings? Not annually but like an indicatioin of age?

 

[jenphilly]

i've wondered.. are the layers similar like tree rings? Not annually but like an indicatioin of age?

Nope, beaks peel constantly so always new layers!

 

[DiscoDuck]

i've wondered.. are the layers similar like tree rings? Not annually but like an indicatioin of age?

Nope, beaks peel constantly so always new layers!

Interesting.. While I wouldn't want to have a necroposy sp? done...

Given there are always new layers.
I would think the core of the beak closest to the blood
either grows out and then grows new.
the outside layers flakes off,
so that then the beak can form new layers??

Hence sort of like counting tree rings?

Aint physiology and anatomy great!:56:

I guess a better analogy is that the beak is more like a fingernail??

 

[jenphilly]

i've wondered.. are the layers similar like tree rings? Not annually but like an indicatioin of age?

Nope, beaks peel constantly so always new layers!

Interesting.. While I wouldn't want to have a necroposy sp? done...

Given there are always new layers.
I would think the core of the beak closest to the blood
either grows out and then grows new.
the outside layers flakes off,
so that then the beak can form new layers??

Hence sort of like counting tree rings?

Aint physiology and anatomy great!:56:

I guess a better analogy is that the beak is more like a fingernail??

More like a fingernail I'd totally agree!! But, the physiology and anatomy aspect is an interesting thought... that is a great question maybe someone here with medical experience / background can answer if there is any foundation or layers that do not grow out but the layers grow onto and outward where they peel off.