Alexandrine neck ring

[KatieON]

Hi all, looking for opinions.... I have this alexandrine. Not sure of age, but eyes and colour of beak indicate a young bird. Check out the neck ring though. Could a neck ring this dark be a shadow? Or the start of a real neck ring? What do you think?

 

[expressmailtome]

Bump.

 

[sunnysmom]

I'm afraid I don't know but he's really cute.

 

[Monica]

Probably a shadow ring, which young females and males can get.

 

[zoo mom]

I don't know anything about Alexandrines. But I do know cute. That is one cute bird.

 

[Les charlson]

Hi. How long have you had your bird? What diet is it on as that does make a difference to their feather colour I have found. I blew the pic up and it does look like the start of a ring although I have one who looks like this and is almost 3 yrs. He also has a couple of pink and black feathers now so his ring is finally coming in. I also have a baby with a shadow like yours, but is DNA male. As Monica said it could be a shadow depending on the age. Are those dark feathers on his cheek black or is it just the lighting?

 

[KatieON]

He (she?) was predominantly on a seed diet at the pet store, not sure about before that. Since I have had him/her pellets, fresh fruit and vegetables with occasional seeds and nuts as treats only. I also give him/her boiled egg. Feathers have been brightening - has been molting around the head. No black feathers on cheeks only black and dark/grey in the ring. The darker spots in the cheeks are more grey - I think it is the fluffy underfeather showing through. No DNA testing where I live so it’s a guessing game really.

 

[KatieON]

The little tufty bits across his beak and eyes are black though.