Most parrot tongues are black. Many are white or flesh. Most cases they are the same color as the beak. They can also be pied, or black and flesh. This can change with age in some cases, especially amazons.
Dr B
Nov 25, 2009
amazon Tongue by: Hillary
OK, she'll go to the vet, Dr. B there are no SC vets listed so I'll go to Dr. Greg. He attended a party at my house and noted that my Iguana was white. he went home and got a shot of Vitamin D and saved the creature at an oyster roast, good fellow.
So what is the right color for the tongue, that seems to be the discussion a hand. Every body run and look at your breeder birds and see what color their tongues are-I have only Anne and long past memories of other mallet tongues to think that black means she is healthy.
Nov 25, 2009
Amazon tongue changing color by: The Vet
Color change can be from age, nutritional deficiencies, cancer, injury, or just genetic. Ire commend that if you have not had your bird examined by a veterinarian in the last 6months, you should take her in as soon as possible.
Dr B
Nov 25, 2009
Finding an avian vet by: Tracie
You can do a search on the link listed on the page below.
Right, All my birds have had black tongues. I thought she was sick or dehydrated when i saw it was white. And the sweeter she becomes, the blacker the tongue gets, so I thought she was in recovery. Any referrals to avian vets in Columbia SC?
Nov 23, 2009
Bird tongue color by: Kelly
Really? Bird Tongue's should NEVER be black? Would that be just the species? My blue and gold Macaw has a black tounge.
Nov 21, 2009
Reply to black tongueq by: Hillary
Moz had a black tongue. Your answer surprised me. Anne eats what I eat. She has her seed mix (high dollar)which she doesn't like, raisins, cheerios, chicken bones, pecans I crack for her, and anything I'm eating. She loves spaghetti. And so active. She moves around the cage all day. Talks, carries on, sings, chirtles and clucks, watches the dogs. The only worry I have is that she can't crack pecans. She should be able to crack Brazil nuts. So I will take her to the vet. PBFS is didn't affect the activity of the Molucccan Cockatoo I babysat, maybe she is sick.
In Columbia I only know of Dr. Greg Brown who handles avians. If you know any others let me know, you have none listed for SC.
Nov 19, 2009
tongue changing color by: Linda
THIS BIRD NEEDS TO BE SEEN BY AN AVIAN VET IMMEDIATELY OR AS SOON AS YOU CAN GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR HER. This is NOT normal as bird tongues should NEVER be black.
There very well could be something very badly wrong here, and an Avian Vet will be able to do the proper testing to find out what the problem may be. Vitamin/Mineral problems are common with birds eating all seed diets, and as the birds age, the damage will start showing. At 37, she needs to be checked by an Avian vet for infections or other physical problems that could be causing this.
Let us know what the vet had to say about her when you get a chance. Please do take her in for a checkup because these birds are supposed to live up to their 70's, so she is about middle-aged, and you don't want to lose her.
Thanks for writing, and we'll be watching for your status report.
