Sun Conure Wing Twitch

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Sun Conure Wing Twitch

by Joni
(Alberta, Canada)

I've had a sun conure for just under a month now, I got her from a breeder. She is almost 4 months old (she was born May 2, 2010). She has this strange twitch in her right wing. Every couple of seconds she will twitch her right wing as if she is going to fly, but she doesn't. And its only the one wing. When she does twitch she makes a quiet noise. Her wings were clipped when we got her, but she is still able to fly short distances.
Is this something to be concerned about?

Comments for
Sun Conure Wing Twitch

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Jun 18, 2011

Sun conure wing flutter/quiver
by: Anonymous

My sun conure often holds onto the cage with just her beak and flutters/quivers her wings and makes a little noise. should i be concerned?!

Editor's note: If you want people to see and answer, you need to post a question, not an answer here to another question, at Parrot Questions

Sep 03, 2010

Conure with twitching wing
by: The Avian Vet

This could be a normal baby behavior, typically indicating they want food or attention. Sometimes babies will do this when they do not feel well such as when they are hungry or even have an illness such as a bacteria or yeast infection. It could also be something more serious such as nutritional deficiency or heavy metal toxicity. You should have him examined by an avian veterinarian with experience taking care of baby birds.

Dr B

Sep 02, 2010

Sun Conure Wing Twitch
by: Linda

Yes, this is something to be concerned about. It sounds like she is experiencing pain on that side or in that wing, and an Avian Vet needs to examine her to rule out disease, injury or some other physical problem.

When wings are clipped one needs only clip the 6 longer primary flight feathers at the bottom or ends of the wings. If wings are clipped up any higher, it causes the bird chronic pain and is needlessly cruel. Since you say this bird can fly some, it sounds like the clip given was correctly though only you really know whether clip was correct or not.

Also, we recommnd all new birds be taken to an Avian Vet within the first 24 to 48 hours they are in our homes, and a week at the latest because disease from bacterial infections are common to new birds coming from pet stores and some breeders as well. Moving to a new environment is a stressful thing, and the immune system is at a low point allowing all kinds of problems to take hold in the new bird.Most birds coming from pet stores are already sick, and a lot coming from breeders are also sick. By taking them to an Avian Vet in the first 24-48 hours, one can tell whether they were sick from store/breeder or not and the store/breeder can be held responsible for selling a sick bird. After that time period, it can be said they became ill AFTER they were in your home for a while, and there is no recourse for getting vet fees back.

So, take your bird to an Avian Vet in your driving area. There is a link on this site to help you find one if you don't already know where one is. Anytime anyone is buying a bird, they need to have already found an Avian Vet because birds do get sick or injured, and they will not get well until they are diagnosed and treated by a licensed and trained Avian Vet.

Thanks for writing,
Linda

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