JAMES HARRIS, DVM
Birds blush, but not for human reasons
 My three-month-old Congo African grey seems healthy and normal, but her face over the past week seems very pink and slightly peeling. It looks similar to sunburn. She does spend quite a lot of time outdoors. Could it be a disease, allergic reaction, or possibly a sunburn?
--Ryan Klenik, Newark, Delaware
My macaw seems to blush sometimes. The white skin patch on his face turns a little red when he's been out in the sun for a long time, but also for no
apparent reason when he's indoors. Sometimes it happens when he's really
interested in something or excited. What causes this? Can animals be
embarrassed the same way people are?
--Louie Tomasi, San Francisco
 Macaws with bare facial skin do indeed flush occasionally. It resembles blushing in humans, but I do not believe that birds are embarrassed about anything they do. The "blushing" seems to occur when the bird becomes stimulated or interested in something. Capillaries, or small blood vessels, in the skin dilate and give it a red or pink tinge. After awhile, as in humans, the vessels constrict and the flushed appearance fades.
I would be concerned if the facial skin turns red and stays like that for a long period of time. This may be some other condition warranting a veterinary evaluation. From the description youve given of your African grey, I doubt sunburn is the problem. However, if that is what your veterinarian diagnoses, I would keep the bird inside for a few days until the skin is regenerated. If you want, you could apply aloe gel, which is water soluble and wont damage feathers like an oil-based preparation would.
James Harris, DVM is owner and medical director of the Mayfair Veterinary Clinic in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. He founded Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and has served as medical director and chairman of the board for the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Berkeley. Dr. Harris' numerous professional honors include California and National Bustad Companion Animal DVM Awards.
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