Why is my canary breathing heavily and making a clicking sound?

Thanks for reaching out about Bebe. Increased respiratory rate is an indication of breathing difficulty. This could be an infections, trachea obstruction (air sac mites, inhaled particles), toxic insult, enlarged abdominal organs (spleen, liver) and others. Providing heat support can give some aid but is not a treatment. A veterinary visit should be considered to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

These concerning signs could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for reaching out about Aquafina. This sounds serious and a veterinary visit is needed s soon as possible. A respiratory infection (bacterial, fungal), aspiration of food into the trachea, enlarged organs (liver, etc.) or infectious diseases like chlamydophilosis, are all possible. Heat support is important aiming for a constant temperature of 85-90 F. This is a case for a veterinarian not to be dealt with at home. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Indigo. This sounds like it could be a respiratory infection. Providing supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range can improve the immune system but a veterinary visit is recommended for diagnostic/treatment plans. Hopefully is bacterial and antibiotics will resolve the issue. Good luck.

This sign could be compatible with an respiratory tract inflammation/infection or eventually to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). Viral and bacterial causes are quite common. The fact that the lower abdomen expands when breathing means that it is more likely that the lungs are affected. High temperature may be present. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics are needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

This is a very serious problem in a bird and indicates illness. What you are describing sounds most like an upper repiratory infection or illness. Your bird needs to see a vet right away. Birds are good at hiding illness and are often sicker then you think. Using a small cage or small aquarium (lined in paper towel and have a screen lid) with a heating pad on low underneath, can help your bird out until you get to a vet.

Some tail movement can be normal because birds have to expand their entire chest to breathe in and out, so that could be what you're seeing. If Tangerine is otherwise healthy, just keeping an eye on her is best. However, if she seems to be having a hard time breathing, has any discharge from the nose or mouth, or becomes listless and refuses to eat or drink, this can mean illness which should be checked out by your vet.