For domesticated birds, head bobbing is a normal way to communicate with their owners. When a parrot wants your attention, they will start bobbing and moving side to side. As soon as they feel ignored, they will do their best dance to get you to look. Listen to their cue and give them some love.
"The bobbing comes into play when a bird is walking because the bird is stabilizing its gaze—on either what's ahead or prey—and as the bird walks, the bird bobs its head to catch up with its body moving forward," says Beilke. Depending on the species, it also plays a role in the bird's depth perception.
An angry bird may stretch up tall or crouch into an attack position, or it may sharply flick its tail or spread its wings to make itself appear larger and more threatening. Sound: Many birds have alarm calls and other sounds such as bill clacks or hisses that can indicate agitation and anger.
Just because a bird bites you doesn't mean that the bird is mean, aggressive, or isn't bonded to you. Parrots, as hookbills, use their beaks for a variety of functions: preening, eating, climbing, and playing.
Beak Banging
Don't worry, your bird's beak can take the beating. This is typically attributed to courtship behavior. Your bird might be showing off to another bird, to a favorite toy/object, or to you. He might also be practicing his moves.
Birds will truly bite now and then, but only if they are frightened, startled, or if they feel cornered and vulnerable. Chances are that your bird is not trying to be aggressive, as biting is not a dominance behavior in birds.
A parrot that rapidly flips their tail is most likely happy to see you. A species like a caique might even start bopping along the perch. The more sedate, larger parrots show pleasure more discreetly. Another sign of affection is the parrot who flies straight to your arm before you have even called her.
Sign of Happiness. When parrots are happy and content, they will typically puff their feathers up and close their eyes. Much like a cat's purr when happy, parrot's puff up. You may see them doing this in anticipation of being petted, or they may also do it when you're about to give them a treat.
Other studies have supported that parrots can be choosy as to the type of music they prefer. Some seem to prefer calm and complex classical music, some calm Pop, while others appreciate louder, more raucous tunes. But it was determined that most, if not all, of the birds disliked the popular electronic dance music.
Hungry for Attention
“This stems from behavior as a young bird, bobbing their head for their parents to feed them,” says Johanna Black, manager of wildlife at the EcoTarium in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is often observed with birds that crave interaction with their owners or keepers, she says.
Birds puff up for many reasons. Usually it's when they're feeling relaxed but it can also mean that they're anxious. A pet bird will also puff up when it wants your attention.
Check your bird for signs of shock and examine the cranium, eyes, ears, beak and nares for fractures, bleeding, laceration or bruising. Move the bird to a dark, quiet environment and call your avian vet or after-hours facility to notify them that you are bringing in your bird.
Birds bob their heads up and down because they are hungry, angry, excited, or bored. They might also do it because they want attention or want to bond or play with you.
Birds fluff up their feathers to keep warm, and also when they relax for sleep ... and also when sick. A bird who sits puffed up much of the day is likely in trouble.
Screaming Screeching and screaming could be a sign that your bird is desperate for your attention. Make sure to pay your bird some attention whenever you are near their home to make them feel loved as they are very social animals.
Some will bow their heads down and even close their eyes, a sign of a happy bird that fully trusts that petting is not a threat. Some birds will fluff up their head feathers when they see a finger approaching and if they want to be pet.
The individual your bird will prefer is the one he will go to, hand feed from, cuddle with, and play with. People not interested in him will either be ignored or he may try to bite them.
They can be very affectionate, in their own way. While many young birds do learn to enjoy cuddling, this can actually be detrimental to their health as they mature, especially for a female bird. When parrots are young, they may live in flocks and have companions within the flock.
Many parrots are very affectionate, even cuddly with trusted people, and require a lot of attention from their owners constantly. Some species have a tendency to bond to one or two people, and dislike strangers, unless they are regularly and consistently handled by different people.
The best thing you can do if your bird bites is to gently put the bird down—just like giving a time-out to a child having a tantrum—and walk away. Try not to acknowledge the behavior.
If someone approaches his or her parrot in a really negative mood, the pet bird will not want to be handled. In this type of situation, if the person insists, it is likely that the pet bird will either be aggressive or afraid, and both can lead to a bite.
If your bird's anger is a quick reaction to something you have done to offend him, simply apologize and walk away for a while. Often that gesture will suffice. If your bird's anger is in reaction to a new animal or human, apologize to him and then reintroduce everyone more carefully, while cuddling your avian friend.