Bird body language

Pet birds often are described as moody: loving one minute and demanding the next. Sometimes obvious and sometimes subtle, a bird's body language can give you insight into what it needs and wants. Although parrots and other birds communicate through different body language, the following behaviours are observed in most pet birds. (Part 2 to follow in the next issue.)

Eyes: Unlike humans, birds can control their irises, enlarging and shrinking their pupils rapidly. This display is called flashing and birds may do this when excited, interested in something, angry, frightened, or aggressive. Take it into context with the bird's immediate environment and body posture.

Singing, talking and whistling: These vocalisations often mean it's a happy, healthy, content bird. Some birds love an audience and vocalise the most when others are around. Other birds will remain quiet when being watched. Chattering: Soft chatter can be a sign of contentment or the practice of a bird learning to talk. Loud chatter can be an attention-getter. In the wild, birds often chatter in the evening before going to sleep to connect with other flock members. Purring: A bird's purr is more like a soft growl that can be a sign of contentment or annoyance. When purring, the bird's environment and other body language should be taken into consideration to determine what it's expressing. Tongue-clicking: By clicking the tongue against its beak, your bird may be entertaining itself or asking to be petted. Growling: Not heard in all pet birds, but if your bird is growling, examine its environment and remove anything that may be bothering it. Growling birds don't want to be touched.

Wings: Flapping is used as exercise, getting attention, or displaying happiness. Flipping may be used to fluff the feathers, or wing flipping accompanied by hunching of the shoulders and head bobbing usually means that a bird wants to be fed. Young birds let their wings droop when learning how to fold and tuck in their wings. In older birds, wing drooping may indicate illness. If the bird has physically exerted itself or has bathed, it may droop the wings from tiredness or to let the feathers dry.

Feathers: Birds will ruffle or fluff their feathers when preening, or as a way to relieve tension or cold. If a bird's feathers remain fluffed, it could be a sign of illness and it should be checked by your vet. A contented bird usually will have the crest held back, with just the tip tilted up. If she's excited, she'll often lift her crest. But if the crest is held very high, it indicates fear or great excitement, and should be taken as a warning. An aggressive or alarmed bird may hold the crest flat while crouching and hissing. Quivering may occur when the bird is frightened, overly excited, or part of breeding behaviour.

Tails: A bird may wag its tail like a dog to indicate happiness. It also can be a precursor to defecating, which is helpful if you're housetraining your bird. Tail bobbing accompanied by rapid breathing that follows strenuous exercise is your bird's way of catching its breath. However, if your bird is bobbing its tail feathers and breathing hard without activity, it may be showing signs of respiratory distress or infection. Consult your veterinarian. Tail fanning is a show that displays the bird's strength and vitality.

Feet: Some birds, especially cockatoos, will tap their feet as a sign of dominance over their territory. 'Weak legs' are seen in some birds that don't want to stand or perch for themselves. This most often occurs when you've been handling them and must put them back in their cage - it's their way of resisting.

Beaks: A grinding beak often is a sign of contentment in birds and is heard most often as the bird falls asleep. Some experts believe that birds grind their beaks to keep them in their best condition. Beak clicking - the back and forth sliding of one beak tip over the other - can mean several things. If the bird clicks once and makes its eyes smaller, it's greeting you or acknowledging something. If it clicks several times in a series, the bird is giving a warning and shouldn't be handled. Beak wiping is common after a bird has eaten. Some birds use beak wiping as a way to mark their territory.

Hanging upside down: Some birds consider this natural - it means they're happy and content with their environment. Regurgitating: If your bird pins its eyes, bobs its head, stretches its neck, then regurgitates dinner, it's showing you much affection. Birds feed their young by regurgitating food and breeding pairs often do this for each other to bond. Mouthing: Birds play by grabbing each other's beaks and wrestling. They often use their beaks to joust at one another during play. Head shaking: This is common for African Greys, but the reason isn't well understood. Head bobbing: Birds who want attention may bob their heads back and forth.

Overall body posture is important in determining what your bird is trying to tell you. Relaxed: If the bird has a relaxed body and its head and body are at attention, it's happy and content. At attention: If the head and body are at attention but the body rigid and feathers flared, the bird is letting you know it owns that territory. Bowing: When a bird is crouching with the head tipped downward toward you and perhaps bobbing its head, it wants to be petted or scratched. Head down: Crouching with the head down, a relaxed body and raised wings, it's trying to attract attention, either from you or a potential mate. Aggressive: If a bird is crouching with the head down, eyes pinning, flared tail feathers, ruffled feathers and a rigid body, weaving from side to side, it's warning that it'll bite if provoked. If this stance is accompanied by an urgent walk, it's best to get out of the way until the bird has time to cool off. Hissing and a raised crest may be additional clues that the bird is in an aggressive mood. Lying on back: Though uncommon in the wild, some pet birds will lie on their backs and may even sleep in that position.

Birds use their body to communicate messages to others. Communicate with your bird by observing and interpreting its body language.

When birds bite

Sometimes, no matter how nice you are to your parrot, or what delicious treats you offer him, you would have noticed that he still doesn't seem to want you to pick him up or pet him. Or worse still, he bites you. Parrots usually bite for one reason only: fear. They're either afraid of you, someone in your family, someone entering their territory or a hundred other things. And when parrots are afraid, the only thing they can do is 'fight or flight'. So, because his wings are probably clipped, biting is the best option.

Parrot training is about building trust - coaxing your parrot to slowly overcome his fear of you, your fingers, your hands, your pet dog, your spouse, etc. And to build that trust, you have to stop forcing your parrot to do things like step up when he doesn't want to, or not pet him when he wants to be left alone.

By giving a parrot what he wants you can train it to do anything! Slowly build up trust with your parrot, then just push him a little way into his 'fear zone', wait for him to behave and then reward him. In this way you can get close enough to your parrot so that you can start training him more advanced skills and tolerances.

Reference: http://www.birdtricks.com