Parrots try and communicate with us humans through their body language, vocalizations and actions. Here are some of their basic behaviours to enable you to understand what your parrot is trying to communicate to you. Understanding the basics of our parrots will give you a far better understanding in order to have a successful communicative relationship with your bird.
Beaking
All baby parrots go through a stage whereby they nibble everything. They are testing their strength plus checking out their environment at this stage.
To a baby parrot everything has different textures and tastes. When in this stage, we should not let our fingers, or any other parts of our body be used by the bird when beaking. The bird should be given something more appropriate such as a toy in order to make their discoveries on.
Grinding of beak
This is a sure sign that your bed feels very relaxed content and secure. This is an extremely good sign.
Wiping of beak
The bird will regularly wipe its beak(often on its owner!) during or after it has finished eating. This assists too in keeping the beak in good condition.
Nipping or biting
Your bird will in most cases use this behaviour as a last resort in order to communicate with you, as you would not have responded to its previous communication attempts.
There is always a reason for this type of behaviour be it real anger or frustration.
Feeling cornered, startled, scared, threatened, tired, or just wanting to assert itself (dominance), over-fondling by its owner and lastly but not least wanting you to flee from a perceived intruder are all reasons that could cause our pet bird to attack us.
Sometimes during mating season, parrots may also bite.
When in these aggressive moods, it is just best to leave them alone at the time, until the mood cause is over.
Hiding under paper at the bottom of its cage
Your bird may feel comfortable sleeping like that. It could also be nesting behaviour. It may feel frightened, threatened and thus hiding away from the source of the threat. It could also mean that your bird is feeling ill, especially if it is displaying lethargic behaviour and its feathers are continuously puffed up. In this case a vet should be consulted soonest.
Bouncing up and down
This shows that your bird is extremely happy, or it is wanting to come out of the cage and is trying to attract your attention.
Loud chattering
This usually occurs when noises in your home are louder than usual and your bird will then try and elevate its voice above these noises. Your bird should quieten down once the noises are quieted down.
Chewing
All parrots usually just love to chew. This is a very stimulating activity for the bird. Chewing helps keep their beaks in good condition and also helps them burn off excess energy.
Low crouching and holding fluttering wings slightly away from the body
Your bird is begging for a cuddle and petting.
Displaying
This is a sign of aggression.
A parrot in a state of aggression will be strutting and usually exhibiting a fanned tail, ruffled neck and back feathers, pining (pupil dilation), crouching low with its beak open. There may sometimes be some vocal sounds accompanying this behaviour . You may also observe the bird wiping its beak on its perch.
When your bird is displaying this type of behaviour is it strongly recommended that you do not try and pick your bird up as you will most definitely get bitten.
Your bird may be doing this in an attempt to attract a potential mate (which in cases could be its human owner) or to scare off an intruder or perceived rival.
Drooping wings
Your bird will usually do this to dry off after a shower or misting.
It could also mean that your bird is hot and attempting to cool off.
It could mean too that your bird is not feeling well in which case a vet should be consulted.
Eyes pinning / flashing
Your bird could be pinning its eyes when it is aggressive, excited, frightened, feeling pleasure, upset or sexually excited.
If you do attempt to pick your bird up when it is eye pinning, you will more than likely receive a nasty bite.
In this state, the bird should be left alone until it is out of this mood.
Ruffling of feathers
This usually follows a good preening session. This releases the bird dust (which is shed keratin) into the air and realigns their feathers back to their proper place.
Growling
This could be a warning signal that your bird is annoyed or upset. Leave him alone for the moment and approach him later when he has calmed down. It could also mean that he has learned to copy this sound from your dog!
Hanging on the side of the cage
He may just be resting there or playing. Alternatively, the perches may have fallen or he could just have been frightened by something.
Hanging upside down
A lot of birds do enjoy doing this. The bird may walk across the ceiling of its cage, hang by a toe or even swing upside down. Usually it means that the bird is having fun.
Head below level of feet, stretched out in front
The bird is just about to take off and fly.
Head cocked to one side
The bird is looking at and focusing on an object or may be listening intently to its favourite person talking in the immediate vicinity. This is an excellent time to teach the bird to talk. As parrots have a short attention span, keep lessons to five to ten minutes, several times per day.
Heavy breathing
This could be a sign of a respiratory disorder or a cold. Alternatively if the bird has just flown at length it may be slightly short of breath. In cases of prolonged heavy breathing an avian vet should be consulted without delay.
Laying upside down on bottom of the cage
This is a popular activity with young chicks of several species. It could also be sleeping. It could be holding its favourite toy in its foot in this position. If there is no visible movement (breathing) you should immediately consult an avian vet.
Moulting
All birds will lose some feathers throughout the year or lose some feathers over a period of a few months. This will differ from species to species and will also be depending on the bird's environment. The bird will remove old, loose feathers that are naturally being pushed out by the new ones coming in. The bird will then have pin feathers which are feathers covered in a white keratin (hard plastic-like) coating. The keratin will come off when the bird preens and a new feather will emerge. This keratin protects the new feather while it is growing and is filled with blood.
Muttering softly
Usually this means that all is great in the bird's little world! It is an indication that the bird is feeling content and safe. It can also mean that your bird is practising new words or sounds that it has been learning - when it is feeling confident enough the mutterings will one day turn into loud and clear words, songs, whistles etc.
More to follow in our October newsletter.