gap behind lower mandible

[Rose]

Hi everyone,

This may be perfectly normal but I'm can't find anything written on it. My husband made a tree for my 6 month old Cag. When she is playing on her tree with her toys she will have her neck stretched out so we can see under her lower mandible.There appears to be an opening between her lower mandible and her skin where it doesn't meet. It seems you can see her esophagus through this opening. What do you think?

[Danzee]

It's perfectly normal and all parrots have it.

[karine]

Yep, normal.
My Pionus loves to be rubbed there!!

[HilaryP]

Perfectly normal - Lulu loves to have this tickled gently and does rub there herself when preening

[Rose]

Thanks to all of u. I couldn't find anything about this in any of my books. My husband and I feel much better now.

Rose

[Laura]

Hi everyone,

This may be perfectly normal but I'm can't find anything written on it. My husband made a tree for my 6 month old Cag. When she is playing on her tree with her toys she will have her neck stretched out so we can see under her lower mandible.There appears to be an opening between her lower mandible and her skin where it doesn't meet. It seems you can see her esophagus through this opening. What do you think?

It's fine. Just a warning, make sure none of her toys or anything can hook onto it, there have been cases of freak accidents where that gap has been punctured and the bird has died as a result.

[Rose]

Thanks for the warning. Yes, I try to be very careful about toys that I give her. Will this hole always be there or will it close up eventually?

Rose

[angela13rl]

Yes it will always be there.
Angela

[PakaBird]

If you look at the mandible closely and watch your bird as it opens and closes its mouth, the gap makes a lot of sense.

If the gap was not there and they open their mouth, very wide, the mandible would push against the birds throat/windpipe. With the gap, they are able to open their mouths much wider and grasp much larger objects. Thus, the scars I now have on my thumb and forearm and their ability to grasp and crack large nuts.

Laura, Thanks for the info on the membrane. I always thought I was just seeing the bottom of Pakas  tongue and it opened directly into his mouth. The membrane makes much more sense.

Thanks,

PakaBird