Scaly Face Mite (or Burrowing Mites) are common parasites that infect budgerigars. The mite burrows into featherless areas of the bird, feeding on keratin and leaving characteristic honeycomb lesions as they burrow deeper into the tissue around the cere. Eventually, they make their way down the beak, affecting not only the beak but the cere and eyelids. The mites also attack the legs and feet of the bird, and in really severe cases, the bird’s vent can be infested.
The damage caused to the tissue can be extremely painful. If left untreated these burrowing mites will cause severe deformities of the beak, to the point that eating and drinking become very difficult and birds can actually starve to death.
