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This page was last updated on: April 15, 2008
UNDERSTANDING BASIC PARROT BEHAVIOR
By Darlene Johnson ~ Aviculturist ~ Copyright © March 2003 - 2008 All rights reserved.
Parrots try to communicate with humans through body language, actions and vocalizations. Here are some basic behaviors to give you the ability to understand what parrots are trying to communicate to humans. Knowing these behaviors will give you a better understanding in order to have a successful communicative relationship with your feathered companion.Beaking: Baby parrots go through a nibbling stage. They are checking out their environment. Everything has different textures. In this nibbling stage do not let your bird use your fingers or other parts of your body. Give your bird something more appropriate like a toy or other acceptable object.
Beak grinding: A sign that your bird is relaxed, very secure and content with its environment. Your bird is just about to go to sleep.
Beak wiping: To clean debris off its beak after eating. It will also keep the beak in condition.
Biting or nipping: Your bird uses this as a last resort for communication with you as you have not responded to previous communication attempts. There is always a reason. It could be anger or frustration (displaced aggression), cornered, displaying, dominance, excessive petting or fondling from the owner, hunger, jealousy, scared, startled, threatened or tired. If an intruder is near by, your bird may bite you to get you to flee. Sometimes during the mating season, parrots may bite. When your parrot is in this mood, it is best to leave it alone at the time, until your bird is out of this mood.
Bottom of the cage hiding under paper: Your bird may be sleeping there. It could be nesting behavior. It may be frightened. Or could indicate that your bird is ill, especially if it is lethargic and feathers are puffed up. In this case, an avian veterinarian should be seen, pronto.
Bouncing up and down: Your bird is very happy. Your bird is trying to get your attention and wants to come out of its cage.
Chattering loudly: This can happen when your home is noisier than normal. If the loud noises quieted down, so will your bird.
Chewing: Most parrots just love to chew! It is a stimulating activity for your bird. Chewing helps keep your bird's beak in excellent condition and helps to burn off excess energy.
Crouching low and holding fluttering wings slightly away from the body: Your bird is begging you to pet it.
Displaying: A sign of aggression. A strutting parrot exhibiting a fanned tail, strutting, ruffled nape and back feathers with head feathers held tight against the head with pupil dilation and crouching very low and the beak open. Sometimes there are also vocal sounds accompaning this behavior. Some birds will also wipe the beak on a perch. When your bird is exhibiting this type of behavior, it is recommended not to pick up your bird, as this is a good way to get bitten. Your bird does this to attract a potential mate which may be you or to frighten off an intruder or rival.
Drooping wings: After a bath or misting, your bird will do this to dry off. Your bird may be hot and this would be a way to cool itself. Also, it can mean that your bird is not feeling well.
Eyes pinning or flashing: Pinning - eyes dilate, contract and the process keeps repeating. Your bird may pin its eyes when it is aggressive, excited, frighten, pleasure, sexually excited or upset. Watch out! If you pick up your bird, your bird will bite. Leave the bird alone. Wait until your bird is out of this mood before picking your bird up.
Fluffing: Is often done after a good preening session. This releases the shed keratin (bird dust) into the air and realigns the feathers to their proper place.
Growling: This may be a warning signal that your bird is upset. Leave your bird alone for the moment and approach your bird later when your bird has calmed down. Or your bird has learned this sound from your dog.
Hanging on the cage wall: Your bird may be resting there or playing. Or the perches may have fallen. Your bird could also be frightened.
Hanging upside down: A lot of birds enjoy doing this activity. Your bird may walk across the ceiling of the cage, hang by one toe or even swing upside down. Your bird is just having fun.
Head down below feet, stretched out in front of it: Your bird is just about ready to take off and fly.
Head cocking to one side: Your bird is looking intently and focusing on an object or if near its favorite person listening intently to what the person is saying. This is an excellent time to teach it to talk. The parrot has a short attention span, so keep the lesson to five to ten minutes, several times a day.
Heavy breathing: Could be signs of respiratory illness due to air sac mites, a cold, etc. Should consult an avian veterinarian.
Laying upside down on cage bottom: This is a popular activity with young chicks in several species. Your bird could be sleeping. A lot of birds also have toys in their foot or feet. Which means your bird is playing. Or if no discernible movement at all, means you need to see an avian veterinarian right away.
Molting: Your bird will lose some feathers throughout the year or will lose some feathers over a period of a few months. Each species is different. It also depends on the environment. Your bird will remove loose, old feathers that are being pushed out by the new ones coming in. Your bird will have pin feathers (feathers covered in a white keratin - hard plastic coating). The coating will come off when preened and a new feather will emerge. The keratin coating is protecting the new feather as it is growing which is filled with blood.
Muttering softly: If you hear your bird muttering quietly to itself. This is an indication that all is great in its world. Your bird is feeling very safe and content. Also, your bird is practicing new words and sounds that it has been learning. One day when your bird is confident that it has it right, this soft muttering will turn into a loud word, phrase, song or whistle.
Neck and body stretching outward or upward: Feathers are tight against the body. Not moving, staying very still. Your bird sees something dangerous.
Panting and wing lifting: Your bird is uncomfortable and has excess heat. Your bird does not have sweat glands. This is a way to cool off.
Perching on one foot: Your bird is happy with its life. It is feeling content and secure. When the head is tucked into the back feathers. This means that your bird is feeling relaxed and secure and is ready to go to sleep or is sleeping.
Perching on two feet: Your bird may not be comfortable with its environment or may not be feeling well.
Sitting low on the perch: If the tail bobs, eyes, squinting, watery or sleepy and or puffy. Your bird may be ill or stressed out. Should consult an avian veterinarian. Also, if your bird's feathers are fanned out over the feet. Your bird is keeping its feet warm and this is a sign of contentment.
Picking at its feet: Your bird is grooming its feet and picking off pieces of food, fecal matter or tiny flakes of dead skin.
Plucking: This could be a sign of a medical problem (internal disease, endocrine imbalance problems, parasites, bacterial, viral or fungal), improper diet (malnutrition), mutilation syndrome, external lesions
(skin tumors, feather cysts, cuts or bruises, fecal matting of feathers and broken blood feathers), stressful environment, toxins (nicotine on their feathers, etc.), boredom, sexual and/or reproductive problems. Should consult an avian veterinarian to rule out a medical problem. Then consult an avian behaviorist.
Preening: This keeps your bird's feathers in tip top condition. Most parrots will solicit you to preen them or they will preen you. This is a gesture of affection and trust.
Regurgitating: This could be a sign of illness, if your bird does this after eating or when your bird is by itself. Should consult an avian veterinarian. Also, if your bird does this in your presence. It is a sign of affection and love for you. Your bird has chosen you as its mate. This is an honor. Your bird might also do this behavior to its favorite object or toy.
Running back and forth inside its cage: This means that your bird is ready to come out and your bird wants you to come and open the door to let him out.
Scratching: This could be a sign that your bird has very dry, flaky skin and feels itchy. Increase bathing activity. If bathing does not help. Consult an avian veterinarian. May be your bird has red mites. If your bird is a recent purchase or a new bird was recently added to the flock, may be your bird has red mites. Throw an white sheet over the cage in the evening, leaving enough open for air flow. In the morning, if you see dark brownish red little dots. You have mites. Consult an avian veterinarian.
Screaming: This could be anger, boredom, fear, greeting a flock member, hunger, in pain, jealousy, feels threatened or wants attention.
Shaking its head: Your cologne, freshly washed hair (shampoo), hair spray and fumes will irritate the nostrils. There may be an ear infection. Restrain your bird properly in a towel, lightly blow the ear coverts aside and look in the ear canal. Look for abnormal redness, discharge or protrusions. Smell the ear. If it has a strong, unpleasant odour, like popcorn or rotting cheese, you have an infection. Take your bird to an avian veterinarian. In African Greys, this can mean a calcium deficiency in their diet. Your bird could be responding to a sound that it hears. Also could be a behavioral problem or a mental problem. Your avian veterinarian might prescribe a mood altering drug.
Sneezing: Your bird may be allergic to some sort of dust or irritant in the air. It may have some water, dust or a feather up its nares. If your bird has nasal discharge and its nares are wet, you need to see an avian veterinarian.
Stress: This behavior can show itself in different forms such as rapid breathing, diarrhea, trembling, holding feathers tight against the body, feather picking, loss of appetite, wing and tail fanning, screaming and standing tall on its perch and becoming really skinny.
Stretching: Your bird will take a wing and leg on one side of its body and stretch them out to the side or your bird will take both of its wings and raised them into the air. Your bird is relaxing and getting the kinks out of its muscles.
Tail bobbing: Could be signs of illness, especially if there are other signs like puffiness or sitting low on the perch with heavy breathing. Should consult an avian veterinarian.
Tail wagging: Your bird is straightening out its tail feathers during a grooming session. It also could be a sign of happiness at the sight of its owner.
Trembling: This could be a sign of anticipation, excitement, unsurety or nervousness.
Vent rubbing: This tends to happen on the onslaught of spring. Male or female birds will do this as their hormones start to rage. Females will rub up against favorite toys, humans and flat surfaces. Males will rub themselves on perches, favorite toys and humans. This is a natural urge for them. It feels good. It does not mean that you need to go out and buy a new companion bird for your bird. It does not mean that your bird needs a mate or to sell your bird to a breeder to make it happy. Just ignore the incident and it will eventually will work itself out of your bird's system as the mating season comes to an end. Occasionally, this becomes a behavioural problem. Sometimes it can stem from a medical problem as well. Like for instance a tumor on the brain. If this is the case, consult an avian veterinarian and then an avian behavior consultant.
Vocalization: When you leave the room. Your bird is wanting to know where you are going. Answer your bird back. When you arrive home or back into the room. Your bird is greeting you. Greet your bird back. This is what they do in nature, in the flock. Sometimes in the morning or evening your bird will vocalize. This is normal as your bird is greeting the day or settling down for the night.
Walking along the branch with head up: Your bird is showing his delight in being in close proximity of you.
Walking along the branch with head down: This is a sign of of your bird being vexed, irritated, agitated and or displeased. Leave your bird alone when in this mood.
Wanting attention: Your bird will softly vocalize to you, start shaking its toys, bouncing up and down or running back and forth in its cage.
Wing flapping: Your bird is exercising.
Wing flicking: Your bird does this when a feather is out of place and trying to realign it. It could also mean annoyance or displeasure.
Won't come out of its cage: Your bird may be scared with what you are wearing. Or there is something new in its area. Your bird is in a mood or may be tired and needs its privacy. May not be feeling well.
Yawning: Your bird may simply be tired or stretching its muscles. Occasionally, it may mean your bird needs more oxygen in its environment. The room that it is housed in might be stuffy. Let in alittle fresh air (make sure that all door and window screens are secure).
If you have behavior questions or are having behavioral problems with your parrot, please consult an avian parrot behavioral consultant and or acquire parrot behavior books, listed below.
AVIAN PARROT BEHAVIORAL CONSULTANTS
Barbara Heidenreich - http://www.goodbirdinc.com
Dr. Larry Lachman - http://www.familyanimal.com
Greg Glendell - http://www.greg-parrots.co.uk/
Jessie James - http://www.birdwhisperer.com/
Jill Hall - http://www.jill-hall.com/
Joanne Olivia-Purdy - http://joliva-purdy.tripod.com/
Liz Wilson - http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/
Mattie Sue Athan - http://www.positivelyparrots.com/
Michelle Karras - http://www.thepoliteparrot.com/
Pamela Clark - http://www.parrotsteward.com/
Phoebe Green Linden - http://www.santabarbarabirdfarm.com/
Sally Blanchard - http://www.companionparrot.com/
Shari Beaudoin - http://www.parrotislandinc.com/
PARROT BEHAVIOR BOOKS and MAGAZINE
Recommended reading for the novice or experience pet owner.
*** NEW *** " GUIDE TO A WELL - BEHAVED PARROT (Third Edition) "
Mattie Sue Athan
PUBLISHED by BARRON'S
ISBN: 0 76413 667 4
" GOOD BIRD A GUIDE TO SOLVING BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN COMPANION PARROTS "
Barbara Heidenreich
PUBLISHED by AVIAN PUBLICATIONS
ISBN: 1 89527 027 8
" THE PARROT PROBLEM SOLVER: FINDING SOLUTIONS TO AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR "
Barbara Heidenreich
ISBN: 0 79380 562 7
" WHY DOES MY BIRD DO THAT? " A GUIDE TO PARROT BEHAVIOR
Julie Rach
PUBLISHED by HOWELL BOOK HOUSE
ISBN: 0 87605 011 9
" MY PARROT, MY FRIEND " AN OWNER'S GUIDE TO PARROT BEHAVIOR BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES AND THEIR ROLE IN CONTEMPORARY AVICULTURE
Bonnie Munro Doane and Thomas Qualkinbush
PUBLISHED by HOWELL BOOK HOUSE
ISBN: 0 87605 970 1
" BIRDS OFF THE PERCH: THERAPY AND TRAINING FOR YOUR PET BIRD "
Larry Lachman, Diane Grindol and Frank Kocher
PUBLISHED by SIMON & SCHUSTER, Fireside Books
ISBN: 0 7432 2704 2
" PARROT TRAINING: A GUIDE TO TAMING AND GENTLING YOUR AVIAN COMPANION "
Bonnie Munro Doane
PUBLISHED by JOHN WILEY & SONS
ISBN: 0 7645 6327 0
" THE BEAK BOOK: UNDERSTANDING, PREVENTING, SOLVING AGGRESSION
AND BITING BEHAVIORS IN COMPANION PARROTS "
Sally Blanchard
PUBLISHED by PBIC, Inc. ( Pet Bird Information Council )
ISBN: 0 9671 2981 8
" MANUAL OF PARROT BEHAVIOR "
Andrew Luescher
ISBN: 0 81382 749 3
*** NEW *** " BREAKING BAD HABITS IN PARROTS: HOW RESPONSIBLE AND SYMPATHETIC PARROT CARE
CAN PREVENT OR REMEDY PROBLEM BEHAVIORS "
Greg Glendell
PUBLISHED by FIREFLY BOOKS
ISBN: 1 55407 297 2
" YOUR OUTTA CONTROL BIRD "
Nikki Moustaki
PUBLISHED by TFH PUBLICATIONS
ISBN: 0 79382 925 9
Other great books to get when you get a new feathered baby companion parrot or second hand bird are:
" COMPANION PARROT HANDBOOK " USING NURTURING GUIDANCE TO CREATE
THE BEST COMPANION PARROT POSSIBLE
Sally Blanchard
PUBLISHED by PBIC
ISBN: 0 9671298 0 X
" THE SECOND HAND PARROT "
Mattie Sue Athan and Dianalee Deter
PUBLISHED by BARRONS EDUCATIONAL SERIES
ISBN: 0 7641 1918 4
"PARROT BEHAVIOR MAGAZINE"
Books may be purchased online from:
AVIAN PARROT BEHAVIOR FORUMS
Bird-Click - Learn to clicker train your bird! Use your new skills to overcome behavior problems, such as shyness, biting and screaming; to teach useful behaviors, such as cooperating with wing and nail grooming, staying on the play gym, and coming to you on call and more.
Clicker Training for Birds - Clickbirds is all about training your bird with positive reinforcement. Learn how to understand your birds body language, how to build a foundation of mutual trust. Learn how to train your bird without punishment.
Good Bird Group - The Good Bird Group was formed to keep members informed of the latest products and services provided by Good Bird, Inc. Good Bird, Inc. is a company dedicated to fostering the human/animal bond with positive reinforcement training. We focus primarily on companion parrot behavior and training.
ParrotBAS - Our goal is to provide a practicum to Susan Friedman's LLP students and anyone else who is interested in improving their Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) skills to prevent and solve behavior problems with their companion parrots.
Parrot Behavior Info - online resource initiative designed to serve as a community hub for the location and sharing of information concerning the captive care and behaviour of psittacines.
Parrot Behavior Demystified - This group is for anyone that wants to learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis and how we can use it to teach and train new behaviors and to diminish unwanted behaviors.
