Flynn’s cere

[Miss_sj]

My 2 year old male budgie is recessive pied and has always had a pink cere. Recently I became concerned as I noticed his cere was changing, and going almost blue at the top and faintly brown at the bottom. I took him to an avian vet, and she isn’t too sure what’s happening so I wanted to put it here to see what you all think.

The vets opinion is he is too young to have testicular cancer and it would be surprising if that’s what it is. Her recommendation is to continue observing him for now and keep her updated on any more changes to the cere.
The vet does have an interesting theory, that the brown on the cere may indicate female hormone. She is wondering if Flynn may actually be part female, and have an ovary as well as testicles.
The only way to know with certainty would be to do a CT scan which he would need to be anaesthetised for. I am a little wary of putting him through that unless there is a benefit for him. We would be finding out if there is an ovary just to know, knowing or not knowing doesn’t make a difference to Flynn’s health. Cost isn’t an issue- the vet may even do
I will attach a photo of Flynn’s cere.
I’m just interested to hear thoughts, if I should be requesting particular tests or could be doing anything else?

 

[Miss_sj]

I forgot to mention- apart from this change to Flynn’s cere, he is eating well, flying, playing and his normal happy and silly little self.

 

[Sparkles99]

I'm not sure what's up. Maybe a before picture of his cere would help some of the others.

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

I don't know... but dang he's cute!

 

[Miss_sj]

I'm not sure what's up. Maybe a before picture of his cere would help some of the others.

 

[Miss_sj]

I don't know... but dang he's cute!

He is, and has the sweetest personality and most bizarre little sense of humour! I really hope he is going to be OK.

 

[Kassiani]

My blue boys have standard blue Ceres, and when it is ‘the season’ they will become a more intense and brilliant blue. Is it perhaps a mating season change to his cere that will go away in a couple of months?

 

[Miss_sj]

My blue boys have standard blue Ceres, and when it is ‘the season’ they will become a more intense and brilliant blue. Is it perhaps a mating season change to his cere that will go away in a couple of months?

My vet believes that the change to brown indicates eostrogen

 

[Sparkles99]

Marzipan's a recessive pied. His cere has always been in between the before & after shades. It is quite the change. Could it be just because he's past his prime? After all, human hormone levels vary throughout life.

 

[Kassiani]

Just a general question, but are birds affected by foods that have estrogen mimics? I think soy being one of them?

 

[Miss_sj]

Marzipan's a recessive pied. His cere has always been in between the before & after shades. It is quite the change. Could it be just because he's past his prime? After all, human hormone levels vary throughout life.

He’s only 2

 

[Fergus Mom]

My guess would be hormonal changes as well. And wow, I don't think I'd put him through any CT scan unless there was something that indicated illness. Anesthesia scares me for our tiny babies, maybe it's just me. He's a cutie!

 

[Miss_sj]

M

My guess would be hormonal changes as well. And wow, I don't think I'd put him through any CT scan unless there was something that indicated illness. Anesthesia scares me for our tiny babies, maybe it's just me. He's a cutie!

Me too. I guess my concern is that the browning cere could be indicating cancer, even though the vet doesn’t think so it isn’t really definitely ruled out.