Parrot color loss

[krankedyann]

My folks have a green cheek conure which I am babysitting this week while they are away. This bird has lost all of the green in its feathers, and those areas have turned maroon. The cheek-patch has turned grey. Any idea what could be causing this? I'm assuming its diet related. They eat Roudybush plus some table food. I know, I know, but it's not my bird, so I need some proof to show them to get them to change the diet for both birds.

[Girl In The Fire]

What exactly do you mean the feathers changed color? Did the bird molt recently? Green cheek conures do have a maroonish tinge to them.

Feathers cant change color overnight. A very basic explanation for this is that in some species (and as far as I know all species) the feathers come out a certain color but the structure of the feather and the way light reflects off of the feather determines the color we see with our eyes. In certain light birds could appear to be slightly different colors.

Roudybush is a very good bird food. What kind of table foods are offered? French fries and doritos are not the greatest things for birds but as treats it is not the end of the world. Healthy table scraps are excellent for birds and every avian vet I have been to has always told me to feed them a wide variety of table scraps.

ETA: If the birds feathers have truly changed the bird needs to be seen by an avian vet ASAP. There could be many reasons for the change and they are not necessarily related to nutrition.

[krankedyann]

I know it isn't the light. This bird used to be bright blue and green with a little maroon, and now she's all maroon and grey and looks very dull.

She eats vegetables and fruit when she gets table food, she's not getting junk. I'm wondering if there's something specific she's missing. The only thing she won't eat that's healthy is carrots and bell pepper. She does eat a whole lot, seems to have a high metabolism.

[Girl In The Fire]

The color change may not be a dietary issue, it's diet it sounds at the very least adequate. There are many other health issues that can cause a color change in feathers, liver problems and viruses off the top of my head. It is possible it is a nutritional issue but no one in interwebz land can say hey your parents bird is deficient in X. The bird should be seen by an avian vet ASAP.