Understanding The Language & Behavior of a Pet Bird

By: Tippy, Alfred & Dave

Birds, just like other pets, have their own ways of Communicating, or Bird Language.

Birds communicate to other birds and also communicate to their owners, in a variety of ways. While all species have their own unique methods of bird language, there are many generalities.

Birds use their body, body parts and voices to express a wide range of emotions.

Ways Birds Communicate

Barking Some birds give out a type of bark when excited or when trying to prove their dominance.

Beak Clicking When a bird is clicking it's beak, it is trying to tell others it is threatened or that it is protecting something.

Beak Grinding When a bird grinds it's beak the bird is trying to communicate it is feeling secure and content.

Beak Wiping When a bird wipes it's beak the bird is trying to communicate that he is aggravated or upset about something. Beak wiping is also typically normal behavior for birds when they are trying to clean the beak or dislodge something stuck in it.

See Also Why Bird's Bite http://petcaretips.net/bird-biting.html

Chattering Some birds just like to talk, talk about anything; their environment, how they feel, the state of the union.... so to communicate their thoughts, they chatter, sometimes incessantly, sometimes loud, sometimes soft.

Young birds chirp or chatter when they want fed. Birds in the wild often chatter as a warning sign to other birds that something is not right in their environment, or as a call to attract another bird's attention.

Crouching If the bird is crouching with it's head toward the owner, the birds wants to be petted or scratched.

If crouching with head down, relaxed body and raised wings, the bird wants attention.

If crouching with head down, eyes pinning, flared tail feathers, ruffled feathers, and a rigid body, the bird is giving a warning to back off.

Flashing or Dilating Pupils Flashing or dilating pupils the bird may be trying to communicate aggression, excitement, nervousness, or pleasure.

Growling Some birds communicate with a type of growl that means back off mister and leave me alone.

Head Snaking A bird that is shaking it's head from side to side means it is excited.

Panting A panting bird is overheated, overexerted and uncomfortable.

Purring A bird can give a type of purr communicating the bird is relaxed and content.

Singing A bird sings when it is communicating a message to another bird, perhaps as a mating call, or when it is content and happy.

See Also: Why Birds Sing http://petcaretips.net/why-bird-sings.html

Talking A Bird talks when it is content and happy and wants to send a message to the another bird or it's owner.

Tail Bobbing When a bird bobs it's tail that may mean it's sick, but also some birds bob their tails when they are talking or singing.

Tail Fanning Tail fanning by a bird indicates it's unhappy about something and may become aggressive

Tail Wagging Just like dogs, tail wagging communicates that a bird is content or happy.

Tongue Clicking When a bird gives a rapid clicking of their tongue they are trying to communicate friendliness or an invitation to be friends.

Wing Drooping A Bird will droop it's wings for several reasons. It may have just taken a bath and it's holding the wings down while drying. It may happen in young birds who have not learned how to hold their wings. The bird may be overheated and wanting to cool itself. The bird may be sick.

Wing Flipping If a caged bird is flicking it's wings sharply, it is communicating annoyance or fear. It could also mean the bird has lost it's balance and is trying to correct itself, if this is the case the wing flipping won't last long.

Wing and Body Quivering Quivering wings and body means the bird is fearful of something in it's immediate environment.

Wing Drumming Birds drum their wings when they need exercise or out of boredom. It may also communicate the bird is protecting it's territory.

Whistling When a bird whistles it is communicating that the bird feels content, safe and is at ease in it's world.

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Tippy, Alfred & Dave Copyright © 2005

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