Common Bird Illnesses: Signs, Causes and Treatment

Written by the Birdsville team. Last updated October 2026.

This page covers the most common bird illnesses and health problems, explained simply for everyday bird owners. It walks through the signs that your bird is sick, the role of diet, stress and environment, and the most common parasites, fungal infections, viruses and bacteria, with what you can do about each one.

Is My Bird Sick? First Steps
Bird Stress and Environment
Poor Diet in Birds
Environmental Causes of Ill Health
Bird Stressors
Contaminated Water and Food
Unclean Conditions
Disease Spread by Wild Birds, Insects and Rodents
Injuries
Feather Plucking in Parrots
Internal Parasites
External Parasites
Yeast and Fungal Infections
Viruses in Birds
Bacteria in Birds
Other Conditions Birds Can Get
When to See a Vet
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Vets and Links
Quick Reference Table

Is My Bird Sick? First Steps

Birds hide illness until they are quite sick, so act as soon as you notice something is wrong. A fluffed up bird, a bird sitting on the floor of the cage, a change in droppings or a loss of appetite all need attention straight away.

Keep Your Bird Warm

Warmth is the most important first step. Without a heat lamp, even in summer, electrolytes and medications often can’t do their job properly. Birdsville stocks a number of heat globes suitable for 24 hour use that won’t disrupt your bird’s sleep.

Give Energy and Support

While a bird is injured, stressed or unwell, we recommend a first aid supplement such as Vetafarm Poly Aid Plus (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-poly-aid-plus-40g) or Vetafarm Spark Liquid (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-spark-liquid-50ml). These won’t cure the underlying problem, but they give the bird the energy it needs to fight it.

First Line Antibiotics

Most good bird specialists, including us, stock soluble broad spectrum antibiotic powders that go in the drinking water and treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including chlamydia and mycoplasma. We stock Vetafarm Triple C (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-triple-c-25g) and Oxymav B (https://petsville.com.au/products/oxymav-b-100g), along with a range of other first line treatments. Antibiotics don’t work against viruses, fungus or worms, so if your bird hasn’t improved within 3 days, see an avian vet.

Bird Stress and Environment

Just like people and any other animal, birds can develop a whole host of problems from their environment, genetics or disease. Every day, birds are exposed to microorganisms from the air, insects, clothing, human hands and almost every part of their surroundings. The best way to keep your bird healthy is to build a strong immune system that can fight disease, keep its environment clean, and keep it mentally stimulated and happy.

A bird fed a low quality diet is usually easy to spot, just as a bird brimming with health is. Vitamin deficiency plays a big role in the decline of a bird’s immune function. We have detailed healthy diet programs on our individual bird care pages, and our team can run you through a healthy diet plan in-store. In general, poor nutrition, an unclean environment, genetics, stress and simple bad luck can all play a part in whether a bird gets sick.

Below is an overview of the most common bird diseases, their symptoms and the basics of each. Many can be managed at home, while others need a vet.

How Disease Develops

Disease from a new group of birds: older birds can carry many avian diseases for years without ever looking unwell. They can pass these on to younger birds, whose immune systems aren’t fully developed. Some young birds have natural immunity, but as a group they’re more vulnerable, especially when they’re also stressed by a new home. Adult birds are generally more resilient.

Disease from an existing condition: birds can carry diseases or fungal infections without any telltale signs, and they instinctively hide symptoms. The same disease might never affect one bird but be fatal to another. Many birds are naturally immune, while others hatch with a weak immune system and are highly susceptible. A bird with a very poor immune system may even carry more than one disease or fungus at once. Just like cats and dogs, some bird diseases can pass to people, so always wash your hands after handling any animal.

Disease from the environment: sometimes you can do everything right and a bird still catches something from an unlikely source. Many bird germs travel through the air in tiny dust particles containing dried mucus, droppings and secretions. Wind can carry these particles through an open window onto a bird or its cage.

Poor Diet in Birds

Poor nutrition can cause a number of diseases on its own, and it also leaves a bird more vulnerable to germs a strong immune system would normally fight off.

Iodine Deficiency

Goitre is a common problem caused by an underactive thyroid gland, which happens when a bird isn’t getting enough iodine. The gland swells as it tries to extract whatever iodine it can from a low iodine diet. Captive birds can’t find iodine the way wild birds do, so it should always be supplied. A calcium and iodine perch is an easy way to provide it (https://birdsville.net.au/calcium-iodine-perch/), and birds usually take only as much as they instinctively need.

Obesity

Obesity is common in many parrots, especially budgies, galahs and Amazon parrots. The most common cause is a diet too high in fat, or one full of low quality grains that don’t suit that species. Our team has spent years explaining to customers how important diet is. Our Birdsville Blends are made with the right grains for each kind of bird, plus high nutrient extras like chillies, pumpkin, legumes, dried fruits, dried vegetables and herbs (https://birdsville.net.au/birdsville-blends/).

Fatty Liver Disease

Seed is genuinely healthy for parrots when it’s good quality and fed properly. Fatty liver disease is possibly the most common problem in pet birds over six months old, and it can come from an all seed diet or one made up of low grade seed. Many supermarket seed mixes contain a lot of cheap filler seed, and because they’re often stored in bulk for long periods, they lose nutritional value over time. Eating too many fatty seeds like sunflower and safflower also contributes.

For birds with fatty liver or at risk of it, we recommend Birdsville Blends Healthy Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-healthy-parrot-500g) or Birdsville Blends Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-parrot-4kg) mixed with our plain Basic Budgie Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-budgie-blue-2kg). The best results we’ve seen come from quality seed fed alongside pellets and vitamins, not seed alone. If you’re unsure about your bird’s diet, bring a sample in and our team can help.

Vitamin A Deficiency

Birds low in vitamin A are more prone to disease and infection, more easily stressed, and more likely to fall ill as stress lowers their immune function. Birds with healthy vitamin A levels have stronger immune systems and better disease resistance. Our Birdsville Blends and Seed Enhancer (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blend-mixed-veg-seed-enhancer) are made with this in mind, and you can also offer foods such as spinach, carrot, sweet potato, raspberries, strawberries, orange, apple and peach.

Calcium Deficiency

A lack of calcium usually comes from one of two causes: not enough calcium in the diet, or a lack of vitamin D (see below). It can cause brittle or soft bones, soft nails, a soft beak, egg binding, thin eggs and poor feather growth. Providing both calcium and vitamin D, as outlined on our individual bird care pages, will reverse it. To prevent it, give your bird a calcium bell or cuttlebone and shell grit, and add Vetafarm Calcivet (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-calcivet-50ml) to the water, especially for birds kept indoors.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Birds can’t make enough vitamin D without sunlight. They need at least 10 hours a week of unfiltered sunlight, and glass blocks the UV rays they need. Where that isn’t possible, a vitamin D supplement such as Vetafarm Soluvite D (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-soluvite-d-25g) is the answer. Birdsville stocks a range of vitamin D supplements at all times.

Environmental Causes of Ill Health

You can control a lot about your bird’s environment, though not everything. The best approach is to keep it as clean and safe as possible. Use a good floor substrate that can be changed regularly. We’ve had great success with shell grit, but we stock several other options too, including sand sheets. Make sure the floor drains well, the cage or aviary has plenty of ventilation, and food and water bowls aren’t placed directly under perches where the bird can foul them.

What Are the Signs of Metal Poisoning in Parrots?

Poisoning can come from anywhere in a bird’s environment, whether that’s the house, cage or aviary. Birds will chew almost anything, including windowsills, keys, jewellery, toys, metal buttons and studs, coins, and electrical or plumbing clips, risking zinc or lead poisoning. Rusty old cages and food bowls are a common cause, so remove anything rusty.

Signs of metal poisoning include vomiting, blood in the droppings, black or green diarrhoea, convulsions, depression, extra urine in the droppings and a crop that stays full. Heavy metal poisoning needs immediate veterinary attention, as no antibiotic can treat it. Because birds have such a fast metabolism, symptoms appear far sooner than they would in people. We still see this far too often, almost always traced back to an old, rusty cage, so check yours and replace it if it’s showing rust.

Toxic Foods in Parrots

A number of common foods are toxic to parrots and can cause death. A pet bird flying around the house could find a piece of avocado a child has dropped and quickly become seriously ill. Toxic foods include onion, garlic, avocado, chocolate, xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in many foods), rat poison and many toxic plants.

Toxic Fumes

Birds have air sacs that move air very differently to our lungs, so what’s safe for us isn’t necessarily safe for them. Fumes from Teflon and other non-stick cookware can kill birds inside a home, because heated non-stick coatings release toxic vapours. Birds are also highly sensitive to smoke, polish, pesticides, bleach, ammonia, detergents, insect repellent, wax, paint thinner, petrol, kerosene, lighter fluid, scented candles, household cleaners and aerosols.

When cooking, keep your birds well away from the kitchen. We’ve had reports of birds dying after a neighbouring house was painted, and of finches dying from paint fumes. Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems, which is why canaries were once used in coal mines. Toxic fumes can cause sudden death.

Damp Conditions

A damp environment can develop for many reasons: keeping birds somewhere naturally damp like a laundry, damp substrate that isn’t cleaned regularly, rotting fruit, poor ventilation, or a water bowl that keeps spilling. Damp conditions are ideal for coccidia, bacteria and worm eggs to grow and be picked up by a bird foraging on the floor. Keep the floor dry, and avoid hosing out food bowls inside the enclosure.

Cold Conditions

Cold weather and wind chill can be deadly to birds, especially young birds with immature immune systems. A bird can get hypothermia, but more often the cold simply drops its body temperature and immune function together, leaving it open to viral, bacterial and protozoan infections, sometimes all at once. In the wild or in an aviary, birds huddle together for warmth, which is part of why a single bird in a new home is at slightly higher risk. A chill is especially dangerous for a baby bird, while a warm baby with good food has a much stronger immune response. Keep all birds somewhere dry and free of draughts.

Heat Stroke in Birds

Birds are sensitive to heat and at real risk of heat stroke, particularly in a hot car, a sunroom or a cage in direct sun. Left too long, heat stroke can be fatal. Panting with the wings held away from the body is a sign your bird is overheating.

Bird Stressors

Stress can genuinely be the difference between life and death for some birds. A stressed bird has a weakened immune system, which makes it far more likely to get sick, and in some cases stress alone can kill a bird.

Common stressors include:

Predators and pests: cats, dogs, foxes, rats, mice moving at night and aggressive birds.
Poor care: damp conditions, poor ventilation, an unsuitable environment, cold, heat and an unclean cage.
Poor diet: low quality seed, a sudden change from a good diet to a poor one, and low vitamin D, vitamin A or minerals.
Health problems: bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungus, mites, lice, worms and protozoa.
Natural events: breeding, moulting, an overzealous mate, wet weather and high humidity.
Behaviour and handling: boredom, loneliness, fear, night frights and over-handling by children or adults.

Humidity above 75% can affect birds’ health, especially species from dry desert country, in both hot and cold weather. A stressed bird can develop several conditions at once, because its immune system can’t fight them all off at the same time.

Vetafarm Parrot B-Calm Pellets (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-parrot-b-calm-pellets-350g) contain added L-tryptophan to support calm behaviour and can help stressed or anxious parrots, alongside fixing the cause of the stress.

Stress in New Birds

High levels of stress, from over-handling by excited children or owners, incorrect handling or over-stimulation, are common with new birds. We understand it’s an exciting time and it’s hard not to play with your new pet straight away, but remember that everything around it is new. Please follow our guidance for the first 3 and 10 days, so your baby or adult parrot isn’t over-handled, handled incorrectly or over-stimulated.

Baby Birds Unweaning From Stress

There’s always a risk that a baby parrot will revert, or “unwean”, meaning it stops eating on its own. Many of the stressors above can trigger it.

The first signs are head bobbing, slight wing flapping while standing in one place, and a begging noise. A baby may show one or all of these. If you’re concerned, bring the bird in for us to check, or start it on hand rearing formula.

Act fast if you think your bird has unweaned, as it can starve within a short time if it stops eating or drinking. An unweaned bird needs hand rearing formula morning, midday and night, and we always keep it in stock. We also won’t sell a hand raised bird that hasn’t been eating on its own for at least a week.

Playing with a baby bird’s beak can make it think it’s being fed, encouraging begging and adding stress, so we recommend avoiding it.

A sudden change of diet can also cause stress. We always recommend a baby bird goes home on the same food it was already eating, as long as it was good quality. A baby may not recognise a new food as food if the diet changes too quickly, which can trigger begging. Seed isn’t just seed. Many supermarket and chain store mixes are low grade, so a baby bird has to work harder sifting through filler seed to get proper nutrition, which alone can send it into a downward spiral.

Contaminated Water and Food

Contaminated Water

A water dish placed under a perch, or near food, can grow high levels of algae, coccidia, bacteria and worm eggs within hours on a warm day. Change water at least daily and add a few drops of Vetafarm Aviclens (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-aviclens-water-cleanser-100ml) to help keep it clean. We use standard tap water for our birds.

Contaminated Food

Food containers can attract insects and vermin, which spread germs onto the food a bird eats. Wet foods can grow harmful germs surprisingly quickly in warm weather, and moisture makes food spoil faster in general.

Unclean Conditions

Every bird’s cage needs regular cleaning, and old food should never be allowed to build up in the cage, on perches or in feeders. Change water daily.

A ready to use, bird safe cage cleaner is the easiest option. Simply spray it onto the cage and wipe with a cloth to remove stains, soiling and odour. Vetafarm Avicare (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-avicare-rtu-500ml) and F10 Ready to Use (https://petsville.com.au/products/f10-500ml-ready-to-use) are always available at Birdsville.

Don’t let droppings and old food build up on the cage or aviary floor, as this becomes a haven for dangerous germs. Remove fresh food like fruit and vegetables within 24 hours. Perches placed directly above food dishes will contaminate the food below, something we still see far too often when checking customers’ setups. We disinfect our own enclosures regularly with a vet grade disinfectant, and we recommend customers do the same.

Disease Spread by Wild Birds, Insects and Rodents

Wild birds can carry many diseases and parasites without being affected themselves, but the same diseases can kill a pet bird. Many of these can spread through the air or in dust.

The risk applies to both indoor and outdoor birds. Flies, cockroaches and other insects can carry germs and parasites to a bird’s food or water, or straight onto the bird. Rats and mice can contaminate food and spread disease through their droppings.

Injuries

Fractures, Dislocations and Sprains

Although rare, these can happen to any bird. Breaks, fractures and dislocations need immediate veterinary attention, usually splinting or another way of stabilising the limb. A sprain often heals on its own within a few days to weeks, and the bird will usually favour the leg until it recovers. The most common cause is a foot getting caught in a toy, cage wire or carrier, where the bird panics and twists.

Bruising, Cuts and Impact Injuries

Birds flying free in a home can be spooked and fly into doors and windows. Birds in a cage can have a night fright and slam into the side, sometimes hard enough to break their neck. Birds can also be hurt by other birds, cats, dogs, doors, stoves, hot water, or by drowning in a toilet or dog bowl. A feather that’s pulled out cleanly will usually regrow, but if the follicle is damaged it can cause ongoing problems and may need a vet.

Night Fright

Finding an injured or dead bird on the floor of the cage is a shocking experience, and it can be mistaken for a stroke, heart attack or Sudden Death Syndrome (below). Night frights happen because birds are prey animals, and even while asleep they stay alert to noise or movement. A fright can be triggered by another bird moving suddenly, a loud noise, a bright light, lightning, a possum or bat outside, or a barking dog, and sometimes the cause is never found. Night frights can affect any parrot at any age, but are most common in young birds. A dim night light near the cage helps prevent them.

Sudden Death Syndrome

Similar to SIDS in babies, Sudden Death Syndrome is when an apparently healthy bird dies with no obvious cause. Small birds are more susceptible, but it can happen to larger birds too. Theories include fright, fumes, heat stroke, heart attack, stroke or night fright, and a post mortem often comes back inconclusive. No one can guarantee a living creature’s life from one day to the next, but following the guidance on this page and our bird care pages gives your pet the best possible chance of a long, healthy life.

Swallowing a Foreign Body

Birds love to chew on almost anything, and some will swallow fibrous material they shouldn’t. Birds without enough enrichment are thought to be more likely to do this. A foreign body can block the crop, stopping normal digestion, and can lead to death if untreated. Signs include a swollen crop or a quiet, depressed bird, and it needs a vet straight away. Cotton is one of the most common choking hazards, so avoid toys or materials that contain it. If you’re unsure about a toy, ask our team in-store.

Inhaled Items

If a bird inhales something, such as a seed, into its windpipe, it can block the airway or settle in the lungs and cause infection. This always needs a vet.

Feather Plucking in Parrots

Feather plucking is unfortunately common. You can usually tell it apart from beak and feather disease, because the missing feathers are within reach of the beak. The head looks normal, while the chest, legs, rump and back can be bald. Plucking usually comes down to a mix of causes, and it’s worth tackling early, because it tends to get worse the longer it continues. See our full guide to feather plucking in parrots for more (https://birdsville.net.au/pet-bird-advice-and-training/feather-plucking/).

Lack of enrichment: usually from long hours in the cage with nothing to do. This is part of why we carry such a wide range of bird toys. Browse hanging toys (https://petsville.com.au/collections/hanging-bird-toys), foot toys (https://petsville.com.au/collections/foot-toys) and swings and ladders (https://petsville.com.au/collections/swings-ladders) on Petsville.
Poor diet: birds on an unhealthy, low grade or fatty diet are far more likely to pluck. We’ve had great success with our low fat, high protein Birdsville Blends.
Change of routine: birds are creatures of habit, so a broken routine, such as an owner going on holiday, can trigger plucking. For this reason, we don’t recommend locking your bird into a rigid daily routine, as any disruption can set plucking off. Vary things where you can.
Stress and anxiety: Vetafarm Parrot B-Calm Pellets may help anxious birds settle, alongside more enrichment and a good diet.

Internal Parasites

Worms

Birds can be affected by several types of worms, most commonly roundworms, hairworms and tapeworms. A bird wormer such as Vetafarm Wormout Gel (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-wormout-gel-50ml) is the standard treatment. Choose an all wormer, as many worm syrups don’t kill tapeworm.

Protozoan Infections

Protozoa are single celled parasites. To reduce the risk of infection, keep your birds away from wild birds, rats and mice where possible.

Toxoplasmosis

This protozoan infection has an incubation period of roughly 5 to 23 days before symptoms appear.

Coccidiosis

This parasite lives in the intestinal lining and can cause bleeding, making it harder for a bird to absorb nutrients. Signs include depression, weight loss and diarrhoea, sometimes with blood. Many infected birds show no symptoms, but young or weak birds can become seriously ill. Coccidiosis is usually species specific and spreads bird to bird, and through cockroaches and flies carrying it from droppings to food or water. Its eggs have a hard shell and can survive on the ground for long periods. Its lifecycle takes just 2 to 5 days, so numbers build quickly, with symptoms usually appearing around 8 days after exposure. Vetafarm Coccivet (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-coccivet-50ml) is used to treat it.

Trichomoniasis (Canker)

This protozoan can affect a bird anywhere from the mouth to the crop. Signs include vomiting, weight loss, yawning, neck stretching, depression, and green, runny droppings. It spreads through beak to beak contact or contaminated food and water. Unlike coccidiosis, it doesn’t form a tough cyst, so it doesn’t survive long in the environment. Incubation is roughly 5 to 28 days.

Giardia

This parasite lives in the digestive tract and is usually picked up from contaminated drinking water. Incubation is typically 1 to 14 days. Common symptoms include discoloured, foul smelling diarrhoea with mucus, loss of appetite, dull or oily looking feathers, and lethargy.

External Parasites

Quill Mites

These mites feed on feather quills and dust, irritating and stressing the bird and leaving it more vulnerable to disease. Treat with Vetafarm Avimec (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-avimec-50ml) or a bird mite and lice spray (https://petsville.com.au/products/fidos-avitrol-bird-mite-and-lice-spray-125ml).

Red Mites

Red mites hide in tiny gaps in and around the cage or aviary during the day and come out at night to feed on the bird’s blood. Beyond the stress this causes, it can lead to anaemia. Treat the bird with Avimec and spray the cage and aviary thoroughly.

Air Sac Mites

A fairly common problem in Australian birds, air sac mites live in the air sacs and windpipe. They’re most often seen in canaries and finches, and occasionally in small parrots and cockatiels. Signs include open mouth breathing, a bird that stops singing or chirping, heavy breathing, and a clicking or wheezing sound when you hold the bird close to your ear.

Left untreated, air sac mites are fatal, but treatment is straightforward: a spot on treatment applied to the bird’s skin that kills the mites, available at Birdsville. It also clears other mites, such as scaly face mite, at the same time. We recommend a broad spectrum antibiotic in the water alongside treatment, as a stressed bird can develop a secondary infection as the mites die.

Scaly Face and Scaly Leg

Scaly mite is most often seen in budgies, canaries and finches, though it can affect any bird, including chickens. Signs include crusty skin on the face, beak, legs and feet, and occasionally the rump. Left untreated it can be fatal, but it’s easily treated with Avimec or scaly face ointment, both stocked at Birdsville, which kill the mites and let the skin heal. While treating, keep your bird on a good quality seed mix with vitamins in the water to support its immune system. If you’re unsure, bring your bird in-store and we’ll check it and help stop it spreading to your other birds.

Yeast and Fungal Infections

Several types of yeast and fungus affect birds, including candida, aspergillus, cryptococcus, malassezia and macrorhabdus.

Candida (Candidiasis)

Candida is very common in the environment. Don’t leave fresh fruit, vegetables or other moist food in the cage too long, as spoiled food harbours candida, and change water at least daily, or twice daily in hot weather. Poor hygiene also lets candida take hold, so clean regularly with a cage cleaner or F10 disinfectant.

Young birds can develop candida easily, possibly linked to cold draughts, because their gut defences aren’t fully developed. One of the most common sources is soaked or sprouted seed. That isn’t a reason to stop feeding sprouts, as in our experience the benefits outweigh the risk, but rinsing them with Aviclens reduces the risk of infection. Incubation is around 2 to 5 days, and it also spreads through beak to beak contact and contaminated water, food or surroundings. Humidity above 75%, in hot or cold weather, is thought to help candida affect the crop lining.

Aspergillus

Aspergillus is a fungus that lives in the environment rather than spreading bird to bird, with an incubation period of around 2 to 5 days. Poor ventilation, high humidity and poor hygiene increase the risk, and it mostly affects birds with weakened immune systems. Anything that lowers immunity, such as viral infection, poor air quality, cigarette smoke, stress, poor care or steroid use, can raise the risk. Treatment is difficult and can take weeks to months, usually with antifungal medication and supportive care such as oxygen and warmth from a vet.

Cryptococcus

This fungal infection can affect most animals, including birds and people, but it rarely infects birds. When it does, it’s usually from breathing in spores, possibly from pigeon droppings.

Malassezia

This yeast usually affects the skin and moist areas such as the ears and mouth in various animals, birds included.

Macrorhabdus (Avian Gastric Yeast)

Also known as megabacteria, macrorhabdus is a yeast about 40 times larger than typical bacteria. It usually causes weight loss with bulky, soft, dark droppings, as food is poorly digested. Many birds carry it without symptoms, and there’s a documented case of a bird showing symptoms four years after it was first infected. Other diseases, poor diet, stress in young birds and cold are thought to trigger symptoms.

How it spreads isn’t fully confirmed, but birds are thought to pick it up by eating infected droppings. It’s more common in birds with a poor natural ability to resist it, often within particular bloodlines. The most common form is a slow wasting where the bird becomes very thin. Outbreaks can also happen in crowded colonies, for example when several babies leave the nest around the same time. Reducing stress (see Bird Stressors above) is the best way to lower your bird’s risk.

Viruses in Birds

What Is Beak and Feather Disease in Parrots?

Beak and feather disease, also known as PBFD, circovirus or French moult, causes abnormal feather, beak or nail growth. The virus attacks feather follicles, so feathers look brown or pinched at the base before falling out, along with weight loss and loss of powder down. It’s especially easy to spot in white birds like Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Corellas, whose feathers look dirty or yellow. The beak also loses its normal chalky look and becomes shiny. A healthy cockatoo should leave powder on your hands when you touch it.

PBFD is very common in Australia and is usually a young bird’s disease, as older birds tend to be more resistant. It’s very rare in South American species. In all our years working with thousands of parrots at Birdsville, we’ve never seen one affected, though it isn’t impossible. It spreads through crop feeding, fresh or dried droppings, and skin and feather dust. There’s no cure, and it’s fatal for some birds, but good nutrition, vitamins and a stress free home can help. It can show up in blood tests as early as 2 days after exposure, weeks before any symptoms appear.

Pacheco’s Disease

A member of the herpesvirus family, Pacheco’s disease spreads through contaminated air, feather dust, food, water or surfaces. Signs include depression, extra urine in the droppings, fluffed feathers, lethargy and loss of appetite, with an incubation period of 3 to 7 days.

Newcastle Disease

Caused by a paramyxovirus, Newcastle disease occurs in three forms: virulent, moderate and mild. Incubation is usually 2 to 15 days. It can affect any bird and is thought to spread through wild birds, direct contact, or contaminated food, water, people, equipment, vehicles, shoes or clothing. Effects range from mild breathing problems and loss of appetite to watery eyes, ruffled feathers and death. People can rarely catch it, usually getting mild conjunctivitis for a few days. Any outbreak must be reported to the Department of Agriculture. Treatment isn’t permitted in Australia, and affected birds are euthanised.

Is Bird Flu Dangerous to Pet Birds in Australia?

Bird flu is caused by Influenza Type A. The strain causing concern worldwide and in Australia is H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b), and other subtypes such as H6, H7, H9 and H10 can occasionally infect people, though this is rare. It’s mainly spread through bodily fluids such as droppings, and affected birds may show depression, loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing or sudden death.

Australia lost its bird flu free status in 2026, with H5N1 confirmed in several states including NSW. Locally, cases have been found in wild seabirds along the NSW far south coast, including at Merimbula and Narooma, and in the Hunter New England region. So far, NSW detections have been in wild birds such as terns and petrels, not in aviary or backyard pet birds.

For a pet bird kept indoors or in a properly enclosed aviary, with no contact with wild birds, their droppings or shared outdoor water, the risk remains low. The main exposure route is contact with wild birds or contaminated ground and water, which is why a fully enclosed setup, clean food and water and good hygiene matter more than ever. As with Newcastle disease, any confirmed or suspected case must be reported to the Department of Agriculture, and affected birds are euthanised rather than treated. If you notice several sick or dead wild birds nearby, don’t handle them. Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Polyomavirus

Birds up to 56 days old are most at risk, and infection at that age is usually fatal, while older birds are believed to develop immunity. Incubation is 10 to 14 days. Some birds carry the virus without symptoms and pass it to their chicks. In birds that do show symptoms, signs include abnormal feather growth, blood spots under the skin, vomiting, depression, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, weight loss, paralysis, tremors and regurgitation, and the outlook is poor once symptoms appear.

Can I Catch a Disease From My Pet Bird? (Chlamydia and Psittacosis)

Chlamydia, also called psittacosis, is common across bird collections in Australia, common enough that we medicate our own birds seasonally as a precaution. Incubation is 5 to 15 days. Birds can pick it up from pigeon or rat droppings, or by breathing in dust containing dried saliva, feathers, mucus or droppings from infected birds. That dust can reach an indoor pet on human hands, through the air, or on a fly that lands on a contaminated surface and then on a bird or its water dish.

Many birds carry chlamydia for long periods without symptoms, and some are naturally immune, while birds with weaker immune systems are more likely to become ill. Stress, especially moving to a new home, makes young birds particularly vulnerable. That’s why we keep the shop spotless, feed a genuinely healthy diet and hold new birds for a period before they go on sale.

Chlamydia can pass to people, causing anything from no symptoms to a flu like illness or pneumonia. The standard veterinary treatment for birds is a full course of doxycycline, usually around 45 days.

Bacteria in Birds

Bacteria fall into two main groups, gram positive and gram negative, identified under a microscope with a Gram stain. Vets use this to help choose the most effective antibiotic. Gram positive bacteria have a thick cell wall and stain blue or purple, and include staphylococcus, bacillus and streptococcus. Gram negative bacteria have thinner cell walls and stain pink or red, and include campylobacter, salmonella and E. coli. Mycoplasma has no cell wall at all, which is why only certain antibiotics work against it.

Staphylococcus

Staphylococcus is found everywhere in a bird’s environment and is more likely to affect birds with weakened immune systems in mixed collections. It’s more common in humid, dusty indoor spaces without much fresh air or sunlight. Incubation is usually 2 to 3 days.

Streptococcus

Streptococcus occurs naturally in many birds’ gut and usually causes illness when stress lowers immunity (see Bird Stressors above). A stressed bird can develop symptoms quickly, with an incubation period of 2 to 5 days.

Salmonella

Salmonella spreads through contaminated droppings, food, water, direct contact and even insects, with contaminated food the most common route. Incubation is 12 to 72 hours. It can pass to people and cause food poisoning symptoms.

Mycoplasma

Also known as Chronic Respiratory Disease, mycoplasma is caused by a very small bacteria like organism, with an incubation period usually between 7 and 21 days. It can be carried by people, insects and other animals on skin, hair or shoes.

E. coli

A bird’s overall health affects how likely it is to get E. coli (see Bird Stressors above). It’s usually picked up through cold, damp conditions or contaminated food and water, and high humidity above 75% can lower a bird’s natural resistance. Flies and cockroaches can also carry E. coli to food, water or the bird. Incubation is usually 1 to 3 days, and it can cause stomach illness in people too.

Other Conditions Birds Can Get

Birds can develop a wide range of other conditions, including cockatiel conjunctivitis, diabetes, tumours, gout, paralysis, macaw acne, egg binding, chronic egg laying, herpesvirus of the feet, dry pox, wet pox, papillomatosis, nestling viral disease, a blocked gizzard and sour crop. We’ll cover these in more detail in a future update.

When to See a Vet

Knowing your bird’s normal behaviour and body condition can save its life. Any injury, breathing difficulty, sudden change in behaviour or a bird that stops eating needs a vet promptly.

For milder problems, Birdsville stocks broad spectrum antibiotic powders for ornamental birds that go in the drinking water. They’re effective against bacterial infections including E. coli (enteritis), mycoplasma (chronic respiratory disease) and chlamydia (psittacosis), and are designed as a first line treatment when a definite diagnosis isn’t yet available. If your bird doesn’t respond within 3 days, see an avian vet. We also stock lice and mite treatments, vitamins, probiotics and more.

Feather plucking is one of the most common problems in older birds. It isn’t a disease, more like a bad habit, similar to a person biting their nails, but in extreme cases a bird can start chewing its own skin, which becomes life threatening. If your bird is plucking, come in and see us, as we have a number of diet and behaviour approaches that can help.

Possible Signs of Illness or Injury

Fluffed up appearance
Loss of song or a raspy voice
Weight loss
Sneezing or coughing
Discharge from the nostrils or red nostrils
Dirty feathers around the vent
Loss of appetite
Drooping wings
Eye discharge or swollen eyelids
Swelling or lumps
Sitting on the cage floor
Lethargy
Changes in droppings, such as looser consistency or a different colour
Feather loss, bare patches or visible injury

Common Bird Illnesses: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the first signs my bird is sick?

Common early signs include a fluffed up appearance, loss of song, sitting on the cage floor, reduced appetite, changes in droppings and laboured breathing. Birds are prey animals and naturally hide illness until it’s advanced, so if you notice any of these signs, keep your bird warm and get it checked promptly rather than waiting.

Can I catch a disease from my pet bird?

Yes, a small number of bird diseases can pass to people. Psittacosis (chlamydia) is the main one, and avian influenza and salmonella are rarer examples. Washing your hands after handling any bird and keeping its cage clean greatly reduces the risk, and it’s a sensible habit with any pet, whatever the species.

Is bird flu dangerous to pet birds in Australia?

H5N1 bird flu has been found in wild birds in Australia, including seabirds in NSW, but not in pet or aviary birds. For a bird kept indoors or in a fully enclosed aviary, the risk is low. Keep wild birds away from food and water, practise good hygiene and report any sick wild birds.

What’s the difference between feather plucking and beak and feather disease?

Feather plucking is a behavioural problem, usually caused by boredom, stress or diet, and the head stays fully feathered because the bird can’t reach it. Beak and feather disease is a virus that affects feather and beak growth all over the body, including the head, and there is no cure.

When should I take my bird to the vet instead of treating it at home?

Any injury, breathing difficulty, sudden change in behaviour or a bird that stops eating needs a vet promptly. Milder problems like early feather plucking or diet concerns can often be improved at home first. If a bird on antibiotics hasn’t improved within 3 days, or you’re unsure, see a vet or bring it in-store.

How can I stop my bird from getting sick in the first place?

A clean cage, a genuinely balanced diet, low stress and watching your bird’s normal behaviour go a long way. Most illnesses on this page trace back to poor diet, stress or an unclean environment, so getting those basics right prevents most problems before they start. Quality seed, pellets and vitamins all help.

Quick Reference Table

Iodine Deficiency (Goitre)

About: underactive thyroid from low dietary iodine
Symptoms: swollen thyroid gland
Incubation: not applicable, nutritional
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: iodine supplement or iodine perch

Obesity

About: excess body fat, usually from diet
Symptoms: overweight body, reduced activity
Incubation: not applicable, nutritional
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: diet correction, vet check if severe

Fatty Liver Disease

About: liver damage from a poor quality or all seed diet
Symptoms: lethargy, poor condition, often no signs until advanced
Incubation: not applicable, nutritional
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: diet correction under vet guidance

Vitamin A Deficiency

About: low vitamin A weakening the immune system
Symptoms: more infections and stress
Incubation: not applicable, nutritional
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: vitamin A rich foods or supplements

Calcium Deficiency

About: low calcium or vitamin D
Symptoms: soft or brittle bones, soft beak or nails, egg problems
Incubation: not applicable, nutritional
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: calcium and vitamin D supplements

Vitamin D Deficiency

About: not enough unfiltered sunlight or dietary vitamin D
Symptoms: leads to calcium deficiency problems
Incubation: not applicable, nutritional
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: direct sunlight or supplements

Metal Poisoning

About: zinc or lead from rusty cages or household items
Symptoms: vomiting, blood in droppings, black or green diarrhoea, convulsions, depression
Incubation: rapid
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: emergency vet care

Toxic Foods

About: eating foods harmful to birds
Symptoms: varies, can include sudden illness or death
Incubation: rapid
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: emergency vet care

Toxic Fumes

About: breathing in household fumes such as non-stick cookware, aerosols and smoke
Symptoms: breathing difficulty, sudden death
Incubation: rapid, often minutes
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: move to fresh air immediately, emergency vet care

Fractures, Dislocations and Sprains

About: physical injury, often from a caught limb
Symptoms: favouring a limb, visible injury
Incubation: not applicable
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: vet care, splinting where needed

Night Fright

About: panic while asleep, can cause injury
Symptoms: found injured or dead on the cage floor
Incubation: not applicable
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: night light to prevent it, vet check if injured

Sudden Death Syndrome

About: unexplained death in an apparently healthy bird
Symptoms: none beforehand
Incubation: not applicable
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: none, post mortem often inconclusive

Swallowed Foreign Body

About: swallowed material blocking the crop
Symptoms: swollen crop, depression
Incubation: not applicable
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: emergency vet care, possible surgery

Feather Plucking

About: behaviour, diet or routine related
Symptoms: bald chest, legs, rump or back with normal head feathers
Incubation: not applicable
Spread: not applicable
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: enrichment, better diet, B-Calm, varied routine

Roundworms, Hairworms and Tapeworms

About: internal worms
Symptoms: weight loss, poor condition
Incubation: varies
Spread: contaminated food, water or droppings
Can people catch it: low risk
Treatment: bird wormer such as Wormout Gel

Toxoplasmosis

About: protozoan parasite
Symptoms: varies, often none
Incubation: 5 to 23 days
Spread: contaminated food, water or environment
Can people catch it: yes in general, but pet birds aren’t a usual source
Treatment: vet guided medication

Coccidiosis

About: intestinal protozoan parasite
Symptoms: depression, weight loss, diarrhoea, sometimes with blood
Incubation: around 8 days
Spread: contact, contaminated surfaces, flies and cockroaches
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: Coccivet or vet prescribed medication

Trichomoniasis (Canker)

About: protozoan affecting the mouth to crop
Symptoms: vomiting, weight loss, green or loose droppings
Incubation: 5 to 28 days
Spread: beak to beak contact, contaminated food or water
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: vet prescribed medication

Giardia

About: protozoan in the digestive tract
Symptoms: discoloured, foul smelling diarrhoea, lethargy
Incubation: 1 to 14 days
Spread: contaminated drinking water
Can people catch it: unlikely from birds
Treatment: vet guided medication

Quill Mites and Red Mites

About: mites feeding on feathers or blood
Symptoms: irritation, stress, anaemia (red mites)
Incubation: not applicable
Spread: direct contact, cage or aviary
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: Avimec or mite and lice spray

Air Sac Mites

About: mites living in the airways
Symptoms: open mouth breathing, clicking or wheezing, loss of song
Incubation: not applicable
Spread: direct contact
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: spot on mite treatment, plus precautionary antibiotics

Scaly Face and Scaly Leg

About: burrowing mite affecting the face, beak, legs and feet
Symptoms: crusty skin on the face, legs and feet
Incubation: not applicable
Spread: direct contact
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: Avimec or scaly face ointment

Candida (Candidiasis)

About: common environmental yeast
Symptoms: crop irritation, poor condition
Incubation: 2 to 5 days
Spread: contaminated food or water, beak to beak contact
Can people catch it: not usually from birds
Treatment: vet prescribed antifungal medication

Aspergillus

About: environmental fungus, not spread bird to bird
Symptoms: breathing difficulty
Incubation: 2 to 5 days
Spread: spores in the environment
Can people catch it: not usually from birds
Treatment: long term antifungal treatment from a vet

Macrorhabdus (Avian Gastric Yeast)

About: yeast causing wasting
Symptoms: weight loss, bulky dark droppings
Incubation: unconfirmed
Spread: thought to be through droppings
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: vet guided antifungal medication, hard to fully clear

Pacheco’s Disease

About: avian herpesvirus
Symptoms: depression, fluffed feathers, lethargy
Incubation: 3 to 7 days
Spread: air, feather dust, contaminated food, water or surfaces
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: no cure, supportive vet care

Newcastle Disease

About: paramyxovirus affecting any bird
Symptoms: breathing problems, loss of appetite, death in severe cases
Incubation: 2 to 15 days
Spread: wild birds, contact, contaminated surfaces
Can people catch it: rarely, mild conjunctivitis
Treatment: not permitted in Australia, must be reported

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

About: Influenza Type A
Symptoms: depression, loss of appetite, sudden death
Incubation: varies by strain
Spread: bodily fluids and droppings
Can people catch it: rarely
Treatment: not permitted in Australia, must be reported

Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)

About: circovirus attacking feather and beak growth
Symptoms: abnormal feathers, shiny beak, weight loss
Incubation: detectable in blood from 2 days, symptoms weeks later
Spread: crop feeding, droppings, feather and skin dust
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: no cure, supportive care only

Polyomavirus

About: virus most dangerous to birds under 56 days old
Symptoms: abnormal feathers, vomiting, paralysis, regurgitation
Incubation: 10 to 14 days
Spread: parent to chick, contaminated surroundings
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: no specific cure, supportive vet care

Chlamydia (Psittacosis)

About: very common bacterial infection
Symptoms: often none, can include depression and breathing problems
Incubation: 5 to 15 days
Spread: droppings, dust, human hands, contaminated surfaces
Can people catch it: yes, flu like illness to pneumonia
Treatment: doxycycline, usually a 45 day course

Staphylococcus

About: common environmental bacteria
Symptoms: varies, more likely with weak immunity
Incubation: 2 to 3 days
Spread: environment
Can people catch it: low risk
Treatment: vet prescribed antibiotics

Streptococcus

About: natural gut bacteria that cause illness under stress
Symptoms: varies, often follows stress
Incubation: 2 to 5 days
Spread: already present in the bird, triggered by stress
Can people catch it: low risk
Treatment: vet prescribed antibiotics

Salmonella

About: bacterial infection from contaminated droppings
Symptoms: stomach and gut illness
Incubation: 12 to 72 hours
Spread: contaminated food, water, contact, insects
Can people catch it: yes
Treatment: vet prescribed antibiotics

Mycoplasma (Chronic Respiratory Disease)

About: small bacteria like organism
Symptoms: breathing illness
Incubation: 7 to 21 days
Spread: people, insects, other animals, contaminated surfaces
Can people catch it: no
Treatment: vet prescribed antibiotics

E. coli

About: bacterial infection linked to humidity and hygiene
Symptoms: stomach and gut illness
Incubation: 1 to 3 days
Spread: contaminated food, water, insects
Can people catch it: yes
Treatment: vet prescribed antibiotics

Need Help With a Sick Bird?

Birdsville has been looking after Sydney’s birds since 1985. We’re a small business that does things in a big way, and our team has years of hands on experience with bird health. If you’re worried about your bird, visit us at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, on the corner of Gardeners Road, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney, or call (02) 9669 1766. For anything serious, see an avian vet straight away.

Shop bird health care products online at Petsville (https://petsville.com.au/collections/health-care) with delivery Australia-wide, and follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@birdsvillepets) for live updates.