Brown Patches on Amazon Greens feathers

Question
QUESTION: Recently I have noticed that my normally bright green amazon green has brown patches around the front of her wings and on her chest feathers.  They have been there for about 2 months now.  She is eating and acting normal, but should I be concerned about this color change?
Thank you.

ANSWER: This sounds like "stress bars". Probably nothing that's happening right now, but several months or even a year ago, your Amazon perhaps suffered a slight illness that you didn't even notice (they are natures experts at hiding problems). Often it's a nutritional glitch, but many times we just never know.

If you notice another 'band' of them growing out it would be worthwhile to have your companion fully evaluated for any harbored/hidden problems, including genetic screening. This isn't as expensive as it might sound (we have ALL of our birds done) - because you only need it done once (the genetic screening anyway).
 Take a look at our in-home girls and find out lots more about bird care - nutrition and behavior at our page (nothing for sale, nothing promoted and no ulterior motives)
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you. I do not see any additional bands, however, she still has the brown patches.  Could the stress bars be related to emotional trauma?  In October, tragically, my African Grey parrot died at age 8, and my Amazon Green was very attached to her.  Thank you.
ANSWER: What you describe could certainly cause the stress bars or spots. When a bonded bird loses a mate (even if they weren't same species or 'mating'), they may go off their food ever so slightly, barely noticeable to the human and cause enough of a nutrition disruption to effect the feather color like you see.
 However - typically these are "bars" - as if you took a pencil and drew a line across (not up and down/vertical; but across, horizontally) one or two (or even more) levels of the bird.
 "Spots" could indicate the same type of a problem and causation, but again - nothing beats a hands on examination and evaluation by a vet who knows birds (not just 'any' vet).  Peace of mind is so worth it.
 And I'm truly sorry for your loss. Does anyone know what happened ?


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your email.  It has been really hard on me and my Amazon Green to lose Katie (African Grey), as she was very special.  One day Katie stopped talking.  She kept whistling and imitating noises but no conversation, so I took her to an avian specialist.  The vet said that nothing was wrong but she would do a culture and blood test.  Nothing came back except a small bacterial infection for which I gave her baytril.  Since the fungus test took longer, I also gave her a preemptive dose of diflucan.  She kept losing weight and a week later she threw up and aspirated and collapsed.  I resucitated her, but she died in an oxygen tank hours later.  I never found out what happened. Very sad.  With respect to my Amazon Green, I am going to take her in for an evaluation with a different avian specialist, so I will let you know what happens.  Thanks again!

Answer
I know how that is. I took in a little 'tiel a few years ago with nearly the same symptoms as your Katie - and though he struggled through what looked like recoveries and relapses, the end was the same. A necropsy still provided no definitive answers, but mega-bacteria is always suspect in cases like this.
 I am NOT thinking that's happening with your Amazon. I really do suspect stress, but am awfully happy that you're pursuing it.  Keep me in the loop ok?

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