Pigeon Cere (Wattle): What It Is and When to Worry

The cere is the fleshy swelling at the top of a pigeon’s beak, above the nostrils. Pigeon keepers usually call it the wattle. On an adult feral pigeon it is white and slightly powdery. On a young squab it is smaller and darker, and it turns white as the bird matures, which makes it one of the simplest ways to tell a young pigeon from an adult. Lumps, scabs or a sudden change in colour can be signs of illness.

What a normal cere looks like

Squabs and young birds: small, pinkish-grey or darker and smooth.
Adults: white or off-white with a soft, chalky look.
Older birds: often larger and rougher.

See what does a baby pigeon look like and pigeon age chart.

What does a pigeon’s cere do?

Close-up of a feral pigeon's head showing the white cere above the beak

The cere sits over the top of the nostrils (nares), which are the two slits where the beak meets the head. Strictly speaking, the white swelling on a pigeon is an operculum (opens in new tab), a flap that covers the nostrils in some birds, which in pigeons has grown into a soft mass. Most people, including vets and keepers, still call it the cere or wattle.

In other birds, opercula help keep dust, pollen or water out of the nose, and the pigeon’s probably does something similar. Its exact purpose in pigeons hasn’t been studied much. In fancy breeds, a large wattle is mainly a show feature that people have bred for. See our guide to the pigeon beak for the other parts of the bill.

Unlike a budgie, where the colour of the cere shows whether a bird is male or female, a pigeon’s cere is the same colour in both sexes.

Breeds with large wattles

Some fancy breeds are bred for very large wattles, including carriers, dragoons and barbs. The National Pigeon Association groups several of these as wattle breeds. Large wattles can trap dirt and need checking for injury.

Can you tell males from females by the cere?

Not reliably. Some keepers say males have bigger ceres, but there is a lot of overlap. See how to sex a pigeon.

Cere problems

Pox: wart-like scabs on the cere and around the eyes and beak, often in late summer when mosquitoes are about.
Discoloured cere: a cere that turns brown, grey or yellow and looks wet may be linked to a respiratory infection (“wet cere”), with discharge from the nostrils.
Injury: cuts and scratches from fights or wire.

When to see an avian vet or contact a rescue

See a vet if the cere has lumps, scabs, bleeding or a wet, discoloured look, or if the pigeon is sneezing, has a runny nose or is breathing with its beak open. See sick pigeon symptoms.

FAQ

Why is my pigeon’s cere wet?

A damp, dark cere often goes with nasal discharge, a sign of a respiratory infection. Have it checked.

Is a white cere a sign of a healthy pigeon?

In adults, a clean white cere is normal. It does not rule out illness on its own.

This guide is general information. If a bird is injured or seriously ill, contact an avian vet or a wildlife rescue as soon as you can.

Sources

Last reviewed: 21 October 2026

Last updated 24 October 2026 · Health