Facts About Bird Body Language - Posture, Tail Wags and Beak Movements

A pet bird communicates with his entire body. Pay attention to his feet, posture, beak movements and the wags of his tail for continual small expressive movements.

Toe Tapping Budgies
From tiny budgies to large cockatoos, birds appear to dance at times. The rhythmic movement tapping of a bird's feet symbolizes dominance, according to Doctors Foster and Smith.

Interpret the dancing as a nervous movement to protect a home or play area. When the bird begins to tap his toes, he feels threatened. Back away or remove the potential threat from the bird's area.

Birds Wag Too
If the toe tapping stops and the tail begins to sway side to side, the pet bird wants additional attention. Birds may even exhibit a friendly tail wag when happy, fed a favorite treat or presented with a new toy.

When the tail wag turns into a large fan, followed by a rocking motion of the entire body, stand back. Fanning communicates anger. Enlarging his plumage makes a bird feel large, strong and powerful against threats.

Bird Body Language
Pet birds instantly convey their emotions though posture. When the bird bends forward in a bowing position she feels content and wants a tickle on her neck. Flared wings may accompany this submissive pose to attract a mate. If no mate appears, the bird flares his wings to stretch in the environment he deems safe and secure. This posture also means the bird may fly away from his cage, usually to a nearby human.

A pet bird communicates aggression by tucking his wings into his body in a crouching position while staring straight ahead and running forward. Low hissing and flared tail feathers may accompany this defensive posture.

Working the Beak
Pet birds often sit calmly grinding their beak. The low humming sound keeps the pet content, and can even make them fall asleep. If the sound elevates to a sharp, snapping click the bird is unhappy.

Pet birds wipe their beaks along the bars and perches of new cages or play areas to mark their territory. Birds may also wipe their beak to let a new bird entering the cage know his boundaries.

***This article is the second in a two part series. To read "How Pet Birds Communicate, Part 1, About Bird Body Language - Eyes, Vocalization and Feathers", click on the author's picture and locate the article in the listing.***

References and Suggested Further Reading:
Doctors Foster and Smith, "Understanding Bird Body Language: What Your Parrot or Your Other Bird is Trying to Tell You", Pet Education
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1795&aid=3334

Theresa Jordan, "Understanding Your Bird's Body Language", Winged Wisdom E-Zine
http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww15eii.htm

Hilary S. Stern DVM, "Caring for Your Pet Bird", For the Birds
http://www.forthebirdsdvm.com/pages/caring-for-your-pet-bird

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