All About Bird Nares

Bird nares are essentially bird nostrils—the external openings of your pet’s respiratory tract that are found on the sides of the beak. Sometimes, like in some species of parrots, nares are covered with feathers, which can make it difficult to see them.

Bird nares function like human nostrils—they filter the air your bird breathes, says Katherine Quesenberry, DVM, MPH, DABVP (avian), staff doctor and head of avian and exotic pets at Animal Medical Center in New York City.

“Because pet birds are indoors instead of outdoors, there’s a lot of dust, dirt and debris that can get in there,” she says.

The result? Several infections and conditions can occur that affect bird nares.

Birds can get infections in their nares from just about anything, such as bacteria in the environment, a vitamin A deficiency or fungus. A common cause for bacterial or fungal infections is a lack of fresh air, especially in the winter or summer when the heat or the A/C is on. The filters in both can get dirty, making it easier for fungal spores and other bacteria to get blown around and into bird nostrils.

“Most of these infections start with environmental organisms, and then the nares get secondarily infected,” Dr. Quesenberry says.

To spot an infection, watch for nasal discharge—either a thin, clear fluid or a thicker, gooier one.

Treatment: Take your feathered friend to an avian vet right away. Once there, the vet can diagnose the reason for the infection—like a vitamin A deficiency—as well as clear up the infection with antibiotics or a fungicide.

If your bird has a vitamin A deficiency, which can change the cells in the nasal passages to make your pet more susceptible to infections, your vet probably will want to go over your bird’s diet with you, Dr. Quesenberry says.

Birds can get all sorts of tiny objects stuck in their nares, from food to feathers to particles of dirt that get blown about. While most birds can sneeze out whatever enters, sometimes the particle gets stuck in bird nostrils, causing an infection.

Treatment: A vet can remove debris by using saline nose drops, Dr. Quesenberry says.

Although uncommon in other birds, budgies, in particular, are prone to mites—microscopic parasites that feed off your pet’s blood—that cause the skin of the bird nares to appear crusty. If left untreated, your budgie (aka parakeet) can develop a deformed bird beak, Dr. Quesenberry says.

Treatment: A vet usually will give your parakeet an antiparasitic via medication, spray or powder. You must clean out your bird’s cage to prevent reinfection.

Tropical birds, like Amazon parrots, thrive in humid areas, and they really suffer in the winter when heating systems suck the moisture out of a room. These birds can become more susceptible to respiratory infections during northern winters when the air is dry.

Treatment: Get a humidifier, recommends Dr. Quesenberry, but avoid ultrasonic humidifiers, which produce a very fine spray of moisture but can spew out white dust from built-up mineral deposits that birds can inhale. Safer units are warm- or cool-mist evaporative humidifiers that spray out larger moisture droplets. Whichever humidifier you use, clean it out regularly to prevent mold and bacteria.

Pet birds typically use their nails to clean out their nares. Here are some ways to help them stay clean and healthy.

If your pet’s cage is filled with feathers, food and waste, she’ll clean out her nares with dirty nails, increasing the risk of infection. Keep her bird perches clean, too.

Take your bird into the bathroom with you when you bathe. The steam will help keep her bird nostrils clear, and letting her shower will keep her clean overall.

All birds need to bathe. You can spray your pet with warm water daily, or hang a bird bath—like JW Pet InSight bird bath—on her cage so your feathered family member has her own dedicated spot to clean herself. This can go a long way to keep her nares and other parts healthy.