Zaz Congo African Grey Parrot Stimulating His Preen Gland

• Report rights infringement
• published: 17 Apr 2014
• views: 701

**The info Below explains the preen/oil/uropygial gland** WATERPROOFING FEATHERS--THE UROPYGIAL OIL GLAND Concerning glands that excrete powder for waterproofing feathers--- There is no gland on a bird that secrets powder. It isn't powder that waterproofs a bird's feathers. The powder which is called dander is material shed from the body of various birds and other animals, and is similar to dandruff. It may contain scales of dried skin and old feathers which are on the verge of being replaced. The gland that waterproofs a parrot's feathers is called the uropygial gland. The uropygial gland is also known as the preen gland or oil gland. It's present in most species of bird, and it's relatively large in some aquatic species. In certain species of psittacines, this gland is not present. Hyacinth , Lear's and Spix's Macaws don't have this gland. All parrots in the genus Amazona also don't possess a uropygial gland. The gland is present in all other psittacine species. This gland, when present, lies on the mid-line dorsally on the trunk in the rump area above the levator muscles of the pygostyle. There are no feathers normally on the skin over the gland. There is, however, a tuft of down feathers at the tip of the papilla in most species, and this is called the uropygial wick. In many species of bird, the tail usually flexes laterally each time the bird reaches around to contact the gland and the wick. The gland secretion is spread over the feathers during the act of preening. Waterproofing is considered to be one function of the secretion, and another function is the suppression of the growth of organisms on the skin. The secretion helps keep the feathers, beak, and scales supple. The secretion from the uropygial gland contains vitamin D precursors that are also spread over the feathers by preening. With exposure to partial sunlight, the secretions are converted to an active form, vitamin D, which is ingested with subsequent preening. The gland has a size and shape variation from species to species. For example, the uropygial gland is raised and somewhat heart-shaped in the African grey parrot, and in comparison to that of other species, such as the Eclectus parrot, it may appear enlarged by comparison. However, the uropygial gland is just a larger gland in the grey, which is a normal species variation. Another species with a prominent uropygial is the Moluccan cockatoo. The most common abnormality of the uropygial gland occurs from vitamin A deficiency. Birds on poor diets are likely to be vitamin A deficient. Correction of the diet and perhaps an injection of parenteral vitamin A, will usually rectify the problem. Infection may also occur in the uropygial gland. This may be secondary to hypovitaminosis A, immunosuppressive disease, such as that which occurs with Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD), or trauma.