Frequently Asked Questions about Parrot Behavior

If you are a new bird owner you have probably asked one of these questions after buying your feathered friend.

Why does my bird bite me?

This is probably the most asked question from new parrot owners. Most of the time, the parrot is not actually "biting" the individual, but rather nipping them as a way of getting to know them. They are unfamiliar with their new surroundings and are reacting to new stimuli the only way they know how: using their beak. A bird's beak is essentially a bird's hand. It uses its beak to interact with everything, to eat, to hold things, to preen, etc. A young bird is a lot like a young child; it wants to get its "hands" on everything and the first thing they do is put it into their "mouths."

Many times a bird bites because it is trying to assert itself as the flock leader. The bird will start using its beak to refuse commands from its owner. Very often this is when the owner is giving the bird the command to "step up." If the owner pulls their hand or finger away the parrot will take it as a sign of submission.

DO NOT take a bite personally. Naturally they hurt, in some cases they can make you bleed, but they are most certainly not the end of the world. The goal is avoiding bites altogether, and the only way that can happen is if the bitten person does not have a reaction. If you ignore the bird's bite, it will sense that it is not having an effect on you, and thus will not have a reason to bite you again.

If you jerk your hand away whenever the bird lunges at your finger or hand, even if it does not have any intentions of biting, when you pull away from the bird it shows fear. The bird sees it as a submissive reaction and will naturally bite harder the next time so that it will be sure to get its way. If this is allowed to continue, the bird's attitude will continue unchecked until the bird is out of control. Birds do this in the wild to establish who the flock leader is. If you do not allow the bite to effect you, the bird will understand that you are the boss. If you DO allow it to effect you, you are essentially telling the bird "YOU'RE THE BOSS."

Why does my bird scream?

There is no one reason why a bird screams. One positive way to look at this is that at least your bird is not afraid. If your bird were sensing it was in danger, it would not make any noise. That being said, the worst possible thing you can do when a bird is screaming is yell back. NEVER yell "shut up" to a bird. Not only is it completely unhelpful, it achieves the exact opposite of what you want; for the bird to stop screaming. Birds do not understand punishment. If you yell back at a bird it will continue to scream because it thinks your yelling is positive feedback. Yelling at a screaming bird is playing right into the bird's hand. If you ignore the parrot, it will learn that screaming accomplishes nothing and will no longer have a reason to scream.

Birds scream for other reasons than to get attention. Birds will scream if they sense danger or if their environment becomes stressful in any way. For instance, if a hawk or other large bird of prey flies past your window, your bird might scream as a way of telling you (who it considers a flock member) that there is danger near. Another may be if another family pet such as a cat or dog enters the room where the bird is located and walks near the cage. This is your bird's way of telling you that is in danger and needs help. Often times when a plane passes over my house my bird will scream as a way of telling the plane to "shut up". Many birds scream or let out a little yelp if there is an unexpected loud noise. Birds have an extremely fast reaction time. If there is a loud noise that startles them, like if someone drops something heavy, the bird will react as a way of saying "oh god what was that?!?"

Birds also like to vocalize during sundown and sunup. This is a call to its flock members (you and your family) that it is time to get together. Birds will also scream if their owners leave their line of sight. This is the bird's way of asking you if you are still there. Just respond with a simple "It's okay. Be good." and your bird will learn not to get flustered every time you leave the room. If your bird refuses to stop screaming, do not re-enter the room until they have stopped for at least, 10 to 15 minutes. Then re-enter and reward them with a treat. This will teach the bird that if it is quiet, it will be rewarded.

Why does my bird like me and not any of my family members?

Birds are naturally pair bonders in the wild. They choose one mate and live with them for the rest of their life. Some birds will only let one person hold them; they consider this person their mate. Sometimes they get very close with that person and will attack anyone else that comes near. If your bird lets you pet it and preen it but won't allow anyone else near it or will try and bite anyone else that comes near you, that's okay. This is completely natural behavior. Luckily, this habit can be easy to break, IF you and your family members are persistent.

Have your bird sit on a play stand or perch where the family member you wish it bond with frequents. The more your bird sees this family member, the faster it will realize that it is not a threat. Slowly but surely the family member can offer the bird small treats. Eventually the family member can ask the bird to "step up" onto a finger. If the bird bites, it is important for the family member to understand that it is not personal, just that the bird isn't quite ready for that yet. If you and your family member keep persisting, eventually the bird will become content and will allow you to hold it and give it treats.

Why is my bird feather picking?

Feather picking is extremely serious and is an incredibly bad and hard habit to break. There are many medical reasons that a bird feather picks. If a bird is sick, for instance changes in hormone levels, external or internal parasites, malnutrition, disease, and bacterial or fungal infections. Other non-medical reason a bird feather picks is if it is stressed or suffering large molt. If you think that your bird is feather picking, take your bird to your avian vet IMMEDIATELY. The earlier you identify the problem the faster you can start trying the solutions.

There are no quick or one time solutions to feather picking. If you and your avian vet have ruled out all of the medical causes of feather picking, and boredom is targeted as the reason, you as the owner must be more proactive in stimulating your bird's body and mind. The more time you spend with your bird the less likely it is to feather pick. This is because you are keeping your bird engaged with an activity other than feather picking. To keep your bird from becoming bored, place three to four toys in its cage and rotate toys in and out weekly, this will help to keep your bird from becoming bored with the same surroundings. You can also try moving their perches around or moving the cage altogether if it is located directly adjacent to a window. Birds and other animals could be lurking outside and could scare your bird. If your bird can't see these "threats" then your bird will not be scared. You can also combat boredom by offering your bird a wide variety of foods.

Some birds feather pick because they are not receiving enough sleep. To help give your bird the rest it needs, provide a covered sleeping cage in a darkened and quiet room of out of the way from other activities present the house/apartment. Bird also feather pick if they are not bathing regularly. Provide an opportunity for your bird to bathe at least three times a week in the summer and every other day in the winter (the winter is less humid and causes a bird's feathers to dry out quicker).

Why won't my bird talk?

The first thing to do is identify if you have a bird that is known for its speaking skills. African Greys are renowned for their impressive speech abilities. Amazons are also especially good talkers. However, most parrots can be taught to speak if properly trained.

Do not expect results right away. While many birds take to speaking naturally, others are slow starters and require much more time to find and develop their voice. Some birds never learn to speak. Reward every correct word a bird says with a treat. Start off by rewarding the bird whenever it says anything to you. When it starts to speak more, then you can start only rewarding it if it says the correct word. Never punish your bird for saying the wrong word or saying the word incorrectly. Birds only respond to positive reinforcement. If you are mean to your bird, your bird will not want to speak.

Try one phrase at a time. Start with one phrase like "step-up", "hello", or "hungry". The more you speak to your bird the more likely it is it will be able to pick up the phrases you want it to say. It will take time and patience but if you persist you will be rewarded. It only takes a few to get the ball rolling, and eventually your bird will start to pick up words and phrases that you haven't even tried to teach it.

Why does my bird suddenly dislike me?

There are many reasons why a bird will suddenly turn on someone. The easiest answer is that it has chosen a new person to be a mate. If you are spending more time out of the house or working and your spouse or other family member spends more time with the bird than you do, there is a good chance that the bird will shun you and pick that person as its mate.

How old is the bird? Some birds, when they reach adolescence (usually between the ages of 3 to 5), become hormonal and tend to bite more than usual.

If the bird has been accidentally frightened by you or someone else recently it may take some time for you to win back your bird's trust.

If you have another bird or person that is taking up more of your time, time that would normally be dedicated to your bird, such as a new bird or a new spouse or a new child in the home, your bird is probably jealous and is getting back at you for ignoring it. This can be combated by setting aside an hour or so, preferably two to three, where you and your bird can enjoy quiet, one on one interaction.

Why won't my bird eat?

This is perfectly normal behavior if you have recently purchased a new bird. The bird is just getting used to its new surroundings and, with time, should eventually settle in and be comfortable enough to eat as normal. Sometimes birds from pet stores are accustomed to a seed only diet (which is incredibly unhealthy for the bird) and requires the bird to be slowly weaned off the seeds and onto a fresh fruit and pellet diet. Some birds will not eat when they are sick. If you think your bird is sick, take it to the vet immediately. Even if it is not sick, your avian vet will be able to give you a list of reasons of why your bird won't eat. If your bird won't drink or is drinking much more than normal, that is also a sign that it may be sick.

Why is my bird sleeping on the bottom of its cage?

If your bird is sleeping on the bottom of its cage or if it refuses to perch on actual perches during the day, there is a good chance that your bird is sick and you should take it to your avian vet immediately. If it is a baby bird then it is relatively normal for it to sleep on the bottom of the cage. It is possible the baby bird is still accustomed to sleeping in a nest. Monitor your birds sleeping habits to see if it grows out of this behavior. If it does not, take it to your vet to have it checked.

Why is my bird sleeping during the day?

If your bird takes naps during the day it is bored, tired, or sick. To combat boredom buy your bird more toys and rotate them in the cage. If your bird is tired, it is because it is not getting enough rest at night. To help give your bird the rest it needs, provide a covered sleeping cage in a darkened and quiet room of out of the way from other activities present the house/apartment. If you suspect that your bird is sick, take it to your avian vet immediately. Birds will also sleep during the day if their "mate" is away at work or doing other things. This is so that when the mate returns, the bird will be fully energized.

Birds are Weird

Many of your bird's behaviors may seem strange to you. The one thing you must learn is that birds have their own personality and moods just like people do. Birds are creatures of habit and love their routine. If you setup a daily routine for your parrot, one that includes plenty of out of cage, exercise time, and lots of one on one and family interaction, your bird will become accustomed to it and will learn its boundaries and where it can and cannot go. Establishing a daily routine will also help your bird become more accustomed to you and its surroundings