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  A budgie's eye Compared to a human's eye, bird's eyes are much larger. The biggest part lies within the skull, only a small area can be seen. If one has a closer look to a budgie's eye, one can easily recognize the pupils (5a) and an iris ring (5b). Depending on the bird's colour variety, the pupil is black, dark-brown or red. The iris ring can be white or black. In the latter case it seems as if the bird has no iris ring.

 

 

 

Humans and most mammals have two lids which can be opened and closed from above downwards. In addition to their upper eyelid (5c) and lower eyelid (5d), birds have a third, inner lid, the so called nictitating membrane (5e), see below. On the edges of the upper and lower eyelid some tiny hairs can be found. They are roughly comparable to the human lashes and can only be seen from very close.

The upper and lower eyelid

 

The nictitating membrane The nictitating membrane (5e) opens and closes vertically and is transparent. It is very hard to see in general.

 

 

 

Link tip: Do you want to discuss with experts and other bird owners about your bird's health? Then please feel free to visit the English forum of Welli.net. Of course you will meet me there, too. My nickname is "Feenseeschwalbe".

 
 
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