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Why can the bare white facial skin of an African gray parrot turn pink?

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Close-up of an African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) showing its curved black beak, pale eye, and detailed grey feathers. — African gray parrot African gray parrot (*Psittacus erithacus*).

The bare white facial skin of an African gray parrot can turn pink when the bird becomes agitated. This physiological response is a form of blushing, similar to how skin may change color in other animals due to emotional or physical states.1