In young birds the gape is very soft and noticeable but in a fledgling it begins to harden somewhat, become less prominent, and--like the bill itself--darken with age. (In some bird species--Purple Finches, for example--the adult retains a yellow gape, albeit smaller and less obvious.)
Psoriatic Arthritis. Psoriasis is a skin disease in which patients have dry, red and scaly skin rashes that can occur on any part of the body. Between 5-20% of patients with psoriasis may develop an associated arthritis. Arthritis means inflamed joint.
Common symptoms of arthritis include swelling and pain in the hands and other joints. To determine whether hand swelling is caused by arthritis, and which type of arthritis may be involved, a doctor can perform laboratory tests and X-rays.