Bird Body Language

Kat

Kat

Regular Member
I have this article saved on my computer as i find it very useful, so i thought i'd share it with you all :)


Understanding Bird Body Language: What Your Parrot or Your Other Bird is Trying to Tell You


Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.


Pet birds have been described by some as moody: playful and loving one minute, demanding and aloof the next. Sometimes very obvious and sometimes very subtle, a bird's body language can give you insight into what your bird needs and wants. Although parrots and other birds communicate through different body languages, the following behaviors are observed in most pet birds, some more often than others, and some more prominently than others. Observing your bird's eyes, vocalizations, wings, tail, beak, and overall posture can be very telling.


Eyes


Unlike humans, birds are able to control their irises, enlarging and shrinking their pupils rapidly. This display is called "flashing" or "pinning" and birds may do this when they are excited, greatly interested in something, or when they are angry, frightened, or aggressive.


Eye pinning should be taken into context with the bird's immediate environment and body posture to get an accurate emotional reading.


Vocalizations


In the wild, birds use various vocalizations to warn others of danger, attract mates, protect their territory, and maintain social contacts. Most birds are highly vocal and many times may be trying to communicate with you.


Singing, talking, and whistling: These vocalizations are often signs of a happy, healthy, content bird. Some birds love an audience and sing, talk, and whistle the most when others are around. Other birds will remain quiet when others are watching.


Chattering: Chattering can be very soft or very loud. Soft chatter can be a sign of contentment or can be the practice of a bird learning to talk. Loud chatter can be an attention-getter, reminding you that she is there. In the wild, birds often chatter in the evening before going to sleep to connect with other flock members.


Purring: Not the same as a cat's purr, a bird's purr is more like a soft growl that can be a sign of contentment or a sign of annoyance. When purring, the bird's environment and other body language should be taken into consideration to determine what the bird is expressing.


Tongue-clicking: By clicking her tongue against her beak, your bird may be entertaining herself or asking to be petted or picked up.


Growling: Not heard in all pet birds, growling is an aggressive vocalization. If your bird is growling, examine her environment and remove anything that may be bothering her. Growling birds should not be handled as they do not want to be touched.


Wings


Wings are not always meant for flying; they often are used to communicate.


Wing flapping: Wing flapping, or flying in place, is used as exercise, to get your attention, or just display happiness. Birds may often simply lift their wings as a means to stretch or to cool themselves.


Wing flipping: Wing flipping can mean many different things such as being angry or in pain. Flipping can also be used to fluff the feathers or get the feathers to lay just right. Wing flipping accompanied by hunching of the shoulders and head bobbing is attention-getting and often means that a bird wants to be fed.


Wing drooping: Young birds must learn how to fold and tuck in their wings and often let their wings droop before learning this. However, in older birds, wing drooping may indicate illness. If the bird has just physically exerted herself or has recently bathed, she may let her wings droop from tiredness or to let the feathers dry.


Feathers


A bird's body language includes how she holds her feathers.


Ruffled feathers: Birds will ruffle or fluff their feathers during the preening process. This helps remove any dirt or feather dust, and also helps to return the feathers to their normal position. Birds may also be observed fluffing their feathers as a way to relieve tension. If cold, a bird may also fluff her feathers. Finally, if a bird's feathers remain fluffed, it could be a sign of illness and she should be checked by your veterinarian.


Crest position: Birds such as cockatoos and cockatiels have a large, expressive crest. A contented, relaxed bird will usually have the crest held back, with just the tip tilted up. If she is excited about seeing you, a new toy, food item, etc., she will often lift her crest. If, however, 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: Quivering may occur when the bird is frightened, overly excited, or part of breeding behavior.


Tail


A bird's tail feathers, like other pets' tails, are also used to communicate.


Tail wagging: A bird, like a dog, may wag her tail to tell you that she is glad to see you. Tail wagging can also be a precursor to defecating. This is often helpful if you are trying to housetrain your bird.


Tail flipping: Tail flipping is a general sign of happiness and can be seen when she is happy to see you, plays with her favorite toy, or gets a treat.


Tail bobbing: Tail bobbing accompanied by rapid breathing that follows strenuous exercise is your bird's way of catching her breath. If, however, your bird is bobbing her tail feathers and breathing hard without activity, she may be showing signs of respiratory distress or infection. If this occurs, see your veterinarian.


Tail fanning: Fanning the tail feathers often accompanies other behaviors in a show of aggression or anger. Spreading out the tail feathers is a show that displays the bird's strength and vitality.


Legs and Feet


The legs and feet are not used as often as other body parts to communicate but they are some of the most interesting of bird behaviors.


Foot tapping: Some birds, especially cockatoos, will tap their feet as a sign of dominance over their territory. This usually only happens when they feel their territory is threatened.


Weak legs: Some birds that do not want to stand or perch for themselves display the sudden onset of "weak legs." This most often occurs when you have been handling them and must put them back in their cage; it is their way of resisting. Simply hold and pet the bird a while longer and, when she feels she has been given adequate attention, her legs will suddenly become strong enough to perch. Some birds become very good at this behavior and make it routine.


Hanging upside down: Some birds consider hanging upside down a natural part of their behavior. When doing this, they are happy and content with their environment.


Scratching on the cage bottom: Birds from those species who normally forage on the ground for food, like the African Grey, may scratch on the floor of the cage, much like a chicken.


Beaks and Head


The beak is used for several functions from grooming to cracking nuts and seeds. It can be used as a weapon or to build a nest. There are also many ways a bird uses her beak to tell you things.


Grinding: Beak grinding is often a sign of contentment in birds and is heard most often as the bird falls asleep. It is characterized by the side-to-side sliding of one beak over the other. It is believed by some experts that birds grind their beaks to keep them in their best condition.


Clicking: Clicking of the beak, or the back and forth sliding of one beak tip over the other, can mean several things. If she clicks once and pins her eyes but is otherwise unthreatening, she is greeting you or acknowledging something. If she clicks several times in a series, she is giving a warning and should not be handled. Beak clicking is seen most often in cockatiels and cockatoos.


Wiping: It is common to see a bird wiping her beak after eating. Often, the bird will wipe her beak on a perch, the cage floor, or the cage sides to get it clean. Some birds use beak wiping as a way to mark their territory. This behavior may be seen in birds when introduced to others or kept in areas in which other birds are near.


Biting: Birds will bite for several reasons so it is important to observe other behaviors and the bird's immediate environment to determine the reason behind it. Defending territory, being fearful, or being angry can all cause a bird to bite. An open beak combined with a crouching position and hissing is a definite indication that the bird is prepared to bite.


Chewing: Most birds enjoy chewing and do it for many reasons including to condition their beaks and to entertain themselves. A variety of chew toys should be provided to keep your bird stimulated and interested and to keep her from chewing, and possibly ingesting, inappropriate things.


Regurgitating: Regurgitation is the expulsion of contents from the mouth, esophagus, or crop. If your bird pins her eyes, bobs her head and stretches out her neck, then regurgitates her dinner, she is showing you a great deal of affection. Birds feed their young by regurgitating food and breeding pairs often do this for each other as a part of bonding.


Mouthing: One way birds play is to grab each other's beaks and wrestle. They will often use their beaks to joust at one another during play.


Head shaking: It is very common for African Greys to shake their heads. The reason for this is not well understood.


Head bobbing: Birds who want attention, may bob their heads back and forth.


Postures


Overall body posture is important in determining what your bird is trying to tell you. Some postures have specific meanings; below are a few of the common bird postures.


Relaxed: If the bird has a relaxed body and her head and body are at attention, she is happy and content.


At Attention: If her head and body are at attention but her body is rigid and her feathers are flared, she is letting you know she owns that territory.


Bowing: When a bird is crouching with her head tipped downward toward you, and perhaps bobbing her head, she is asking to be petted or scratched.


Head down: If she is crouching with her head down with a relaxed body and raised wings, she is trying to attract attention, either from you or from a potential mate.


Aggressive: If a bird is crouching with her head down, eyes pinning, flared tail feathers, ruffled feathers, and a rigid body, weaving from side to side, she is giving a warning and won't hesitate to bite if provoked, even in the most minor way. If this stance is accompanied by an urgent walk toward you, it is best to get out of the way until she has time to cool off. Hissing and a raised crest may be additional clues that the bird is in an aggressive state.


Lying on back: Though probably uncommon in the wild, some pet birds will lie on their backs, and may even sleep in that position.


Elimination posture: Prior to defecating, a bird may take several steps backward, crouch, and lift her tail.


Birds use their body and body parts to communicate messages to others. These messages are sometimes very obvious and almost any animal could interpret their meaning. Other body language may be subtle and experience will be needed to interpret it correctly. Many species have their own body languages, while many body languages cross the bird-species border. Communicating with your bird by observing and interpreting her body language will make your relationship much easier and satisfying for you both.
 
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Its a nice article, really helpful for everyone I think but especially for those with new birds - I remember having to read a lot of those articles when I first met Flint :)


But still no answer to why Greys shake thier heads!!
 
I dont know but I noticed with baby..she shakes her head mainly when she is totally relaxed and listen to me talking and/ or when she is ready for a nap
 
Mine both shake their heads when some sound particularly gets their attention, nine out of 10 times these are the sounds they soon start repeating..
 
Hanha ha. Loud I can hear my 2 when I'm at the shop up the road when they are in the garden, but if I have to go out hubby is there to look after them ,that's why they are still outside. I would never leave them even in the aviary unsupervised. Xx


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Lol, Zuri is very loud, but Traff quite quiet, wonder if they mellow with age :biggrin:
 
Hi,


It's an interesting article but it should be remembered that there are 10,000 species of birds and the complete 'language' (ethogram) of *each species* will be different. Many closely related species such as African and T greys will certainly share many behaviours, but not all. The more distantly related the birds, the less behavours they will share. There are 4 main groups of parrots, in terms of their world distribution; African, australasian, asiatic and S/central American. Birds from the same continent are likely to share more behaviours than those from other continents. So a grey might 'understand' a poicephalus species more easily than it would a South American one.


The authors say:


"Some birds that do not want to stand or perch for themselves display the sudden onset of "weak legs." This most often occurs when you have been handling them and must put them back in their cage; it is their way of resisting."


Again, this is quite wrong and a dangerous interpretation. This tempeorary inability to perch should be taken to be a fearful response; not some attempt at 'resisting'. It is more akin to the effect of a mouse being taunted to near death by a cat. The mouse may feign death in the 'hope' that its predator will cease mauling it. Birds show this same reaction. So, when returning a bird to its cage, it is best to place it on the floor and allow it to take its own time, out of direct sight of a person, to recover itself and perch whenever it chooses to.


Also, the authors have interpreted growling wrongly. Growling in grey parrots is never used in aggression; growling is only ever a *fear reaction*. If one were to interpret a grey's growling as aggression, and reacted incorrectly to this sound, then the bird will become even more fearful, esp. of that person.


Generally, confidence and/or aggression is shown by a bird making itself look bigger, so it raisies the feathers on its back. Fearful/nervous behaviours are shown by a bird making itself hidden or smaller, or being very quiet.
 
I realsied the article is a generalisation but is nevertheless useful for new parrot owners as a basis for some behaviours that are witnessed and often misinterpreted or worried about :thumbsup:


Just a disagreement with one thing i have two greys one will growl as a mimik but the other will growl when all puffed balled up, especially at the feather duster. This is a fear thing but is showing aggression as well ?????
 
Hi Kat,


Yes, any growling I would interpret as having an aspect of fear about it.


To decode the 'language' of a species, ethologists first list all the behaviours they see, and how other birds of the same species around them are reacting. Next they test the function of each behaviour. I have done this for grey parrots and have a partial ethogram for Af and T greys. I wrote this up in an article in Parrots magazine a few years ago. Below is the article, which Parrot Club folks might like to see.


The problem with ethograms is that there is some variation in how the birds perform their behaviours; this is much like the regional dialects we have for our own language, so someone from Yorkshire might find it hard to understgand a Geordie, though the actual language is very similar. So we have to allow for this with the birds.


The main thing is just to be able to determine pro-social behaviours (called affiliative behaviours) and distinguish these from nervous/aggressive/fearful behaviours, (agonistic behaviours). The function of other behaviours can be difficult to determine. But birds, like us, do do 'terminal behaviours' and 'commencement behaviours'. The former are like putting a full-stop in an action; the latter are where the bird is preparing to do something, and needs a few seconds to do this. It's a bitlike a man straigtening his tie before a formal interview, or having a thoughful scratch of the chin, before answering a difficult question.


BEHAVIOURAL SIGNALS IN GREY PARROTS. A provisional and only partial ethogram for grey parrots.


By Greg Glendell. Adapted from an article originally published in Parrots magazine, UK 2009.


All birds have a large range of behaviours, which are essentially innate. They are born with the ability to carry out these behaviours; though there will be variation in how each individual bird carries out each behaviour. In grey parrots there are a range of calls, postures and actions which the birds use to communicate detailed information to each other. This relates to the bird’s fears, likes, dislikes and methods of avoiding harm (predator avoidance). Many of the behaviours are carried out by very subtle combinations of raising or lowering certain feathers, particularly the feathers on the head, back and neck. The process of determining accurately the purpose of each behaviour is not easy to achieve. First, you need a group of birds of the same species which you can observe as they interact with each other. It is important that the birds cannot see you while you are recoding their behaviours, as you should not influence their behaviour. Next, each behaviour is described in some detail and given a name. Finally, you need to carry out some tests so as to determine accurately what the purpose of each behaviour is. You should then be able to predict some interactions between the birds and between birds and people. This is what I have done this for this species. The result is the decoded ‘language’ for the species, called an ethogram. It cannot be transferred to other species. Each species has their own complete set of signals which is different from other species of parrots, though some behaviours may be similar to closely related species.


The 34 signal/behaviours have all been seen in Timneh grey parrots and most (but not all) have been seen in African greys. In most cases the birds were not aware of being watched by people while they gave the signals. The observations come from birds observed over 16 years in bird parks, cages and aviaries of bird-keepers, birds at liberty and in caged birds offered for sale. In most cases an attempt has been made to interpret the function of each behaviour. Most behaviours can be classified as either affiliative (Af) (friendly, social behaviour) or agonistic (Ag) (anti-social, aggressive, fearful or assertive). Some behaviours are termination behaviours, performed as a way of signalling the end of another activity. A few are ‘commencement’ behaviours; these are performed where the bird is preparing itself to carry out some other task. Some behaviours are neutral (N) or I have not been able to determine their function. Some of these interpretations are only provisional. The signals are listed in alphabetical order of given name. I have not been able to observe many behaviours which may occur while birds are in sustained flight. Nor have ben able to see detailed behaviours between parent birds and their chicks in the nest. All of the behaviours below are probably innate behaviours; every grey parrot is born with the ability to do these behaviours, and, given the stimulus, will carry them out as appropriate. However, there is variation between how individual birds perform each behaviour, so there is a learnt aspect to these actions. They are part of this species’ behavioural repertoire and form a valuable key into understanding your bird’s likes and dislikes, fears and degree of ‘contentment’. It is vital to back away immediately from any bird if it ever shows fearful behaviours such as growling.


1.Aighr! Aighr! Bird makes loud, repeated, medium pitched “Aighr, aighr” noise while (usually) flying in an excited, erratic or eccentric manner.


Interpretation: Af. invitation to play?


2. Attack. Most body and head feathers raised as in Mantling (No. 17). Bird walks or runs towards source of stimulus with head lowered and bill half open, may blaze eyes (see No. 6). ‘Opponent’ may adopt a similar stance, or fly away. Where opposed, both birds may fight, attempting to bite each others eyes or beak, as their eyes blaze wildly (No 6).


Interp: Ag; behaviour regarding space, food, or threat to one’s mate.


3. Chuck, chuck. Bird makes a soft “chuck, chuck” sound on alighting a perch after having been flying. Call not repeated more than twice.


Interp: Af; Short distance contact call? Termination signal?


4. Clicking. Bird makes clicking sound, 1 to 4 times, by snapping the lower mandible against a notch in the upper mandible. All feathers usually held down though may raise feathers on back (but never on rump) very briefly.


Interp: Ag. Warning/assertiveness/irritation. Bird does not wish to be disturbed, or interact with another. May blaze eyes (see No. 6) if further provoked.


5. Drawing. Bird touches any surface it may be stood on, and with its beak ‘draws’, making erratic or semi-circular movements, pausing to raise its head occasionally (not seen in Af grey).


Interp: Af/Ag? Assertiveness/confidence, desire to initiate some action, impatience, desire for play?


6. Eye blaze. Pupils contract rapidly but briefly while head (usually but not always) held forwards and lowered. Contraction/dilation may be repeated 2 or 3 times. Sometimes, some head and neck feathers are raised, and bird may “Click” (No. 4).


Interp: Ag + Af; Bird is excited (negatively or positively). This signal should not be confused with the bird’s focussing at close distance. In close-focussing, the bird contracts its pupil (iris) to increase depth of field to be able to focus at near-beak distances; e.g. while feeding.


7. Flapping. Stance similar to v-wings (No. 30 below). While perched, bird flaps wings 3-5 times in stereotypical manner while perched with an upright stance; head held forwards. Feathers on back may be raised.


Interp: Af to mate. Ag to others? Territorial? Advertisement of presence to birds known by the signaller (peers and/or mate).


8. Flight Attack. All body feathers held down tightly; bird is always standing on both feet and looks very alert with staring eyes. Bird flies at opponent with no discernible warning (either audibly or visually) usually trying to gain height over the opponent and striking with feet and/or beak while in flight.


Interp: Ag. Intention to drive another bird away.


9. Fluffed up. Bird has upright stance and may rest on one foot only. Most body feathers (but never any wing feathers) are slightly raised, but relaxed. Feathers around chin/cheeks, forehead and back of head (but not neck) clearly raised but feathers on middle of top of head are flattened.


Interp: Af/N. Bird is relaxed, sleepy; may not wish to interact with other birds/people.


10. Growl (fear). Bird makes loud, throaty continuous growling sound. Body feathers held down tightly.


Interp: Ag; Bird is fearful, not aggressive.


11. Growl (threat). As fear growl, but most body feathers including wing coverts are raised. Bird may Click (No. 4) as well.


Interp. Ag; fearful, but not as fearful as in No. 10. Bird wishes to remain where it is while repelling an intruder.


12. Hackles. All feathers on back of neck and upper back raised and lowered very briefly.


Interp: Ag/N; Mild aggression or determination/mild frustration or ’commencement activity’ while bird prepares to do something which requires extra attention, such as fly to an unfamiliar perch, or approach a new object. Shows bird is concentrating/determined?


13. Head pumping. Head is moved up and down vertically and rhythmically 2-6 times while body is motionless.


Interp: Af to mate; Ag. To others? Conspicuous show of assertiveness, confidence, territorial display?


14. Hollow whistle. Bird leans forward and downwards while making single hollow-sounding whistle.


Interp: Af to mate; Ag to others: Bird is alert, confident, but not alarmed. Mild threat/provocation to other greys except mate?


15. Kissing (in mated/bonded pairs only). Birds gently lock beaks briefly, one bird’s beak at 90 degrees to the other; heads sometimes dipped together several times. May proceed to mutual feeding (see 18).


Interp: Af; Greeting between a bonded pair.


16. Knocking. Bird uses front of bill to tap 2 to 6 times on any surface that may produce a resonant sound, e.g. nestbox, windowpane.


Interp: Af to mate; Ag to others. Territorial display?


17. Mantling. Feathers on back, dorsal side of neck and back of head are raised; may also raise feathers on upper wing-coverts. Eyes appears wide and staring, never sunken in. May blaze eyes; may spread/fan tail (rare).


Interp: Ag; Threat/warning of intention to attack the source of the stimulus by walking (not flying). May follow this by Attack (No. 2).


18. Mutual feeding. As kissing, but one bird (usually the male?) passes regurgitated food to the female. Female further stimulates male by pumping her head rhythmically up and down during food exchange, and ‘kissing’ the male.


Interp: Af. Courtship, foreplay, maintains pair bond?


19. Mutual preening. One bird preens the other. Invariably this is confined to the head or upper neck area only. Both birds are usually relaxed with eyes sunken in; most head feathers are raised but ‘relaxed’ on the receiving bird. Body feathers may also be slightly raised on receiving bird.


Interp: Af. Maintains pair bond/courtship in paired birds? Af in non-bonded birds/siblings/peers?


20. Ostrich/fear huddle. (Only seen so far in caged birds while in the company of humans). Bird attempts to hide by facing away from source of stimulus, hiding its head in corner of cage on the floor. Bird remains stationary. May growl if disturbed. Often seen in a group of birds who all congregate in a ‘fear huddle’ in the same corner of the cage.


Interp: Ag. Extreme fear response in highly stressed birds.


21. Rasping. Lower bill rubbed/vibrated repeatedly by being drawn inwards against inside of upper bill, producing a rasping or purring sound. Bird is stationary, relaxed and may stand on one foot only. Often done at or before roosting or during afternoon ‘siesta’. The only sound likely to be heard during darkness. Body and appearance as in ‘Fluffed up’.


Interp: Af. Close contact/ reassurance call? Self-comforting behaviour? Other bird(s) reply by rasping as well.


22. Scratching. Bird scratches the floor, first with one foot, then the other in a rhythmic, rather stereotypical manner. The head is held low, never above the height of the bird’s back, the beak usually touching the floor, or holding on to the cage wire. Not often seen in adults but usually in immature birds.


Interp: Ag; Frustration at confinement? Substitute nest-excavation behaviour?


23. Scratch Request. Head held low and brought forward (bill may be touching perch) while head and some upper neck feathers are raised. ’Cheek’ feathers always raised. Eyes may be partially closed or appear sunken in. Bird stands quite still.


Interp: Af; Invitation for mutual preening/head scratch. Pro-social/friendly (submissive when displayed to an aggressor?)


24. Screech. Bird makes screeching/screaming sound, usually once only. May blaze eyes.


Interp: N/Ag; Excitement mixed with irritation or frustration (at self/object or other bird?).


25. Squawk. Single loud, harsh note, repeated 2-6 times, sometimes more. All feathers held down tightly. Often given on sight of a cat or dog, or unfamiliar/close approach of unfamiliar person or object. Bird may fly immediately in panic.


Interp: Ag. Contact call when produced at low volume and not repeated. But fear/alarm call when volume increased and call repeated. Invitation to take flight? Predator escape response? Or sight of some other threat to self, mate or peers?


26. Strutting. Bird walks in exaggerated, pompous manner; swaggers and stomps each foot down as it walks with the head held upright. Not seen on Af. grey.


Interp: Af to mate; Ag to others? Assertiveness/territorial display?


27. Swaying. Bird’s feet remains in fixed position while swinging its head and sometimes whole body conspicuously in an eccentric manner several times. Often this behaviour is a prelude to, and associated with Strutting. Not seen in Af. Grey.


Interp: Af to mate; Ag to others. Assertiveness, intimidation, or invitation to play?


28. Tailshake. Tail shaken rapidly but only briefly from side to side, sometimes accompanied by shaking of body feathers.


Interp: Af/N; Bird is relaxed and ready or keen to do something. Commencement activity. And/or termination activity seen after bird has carried out some other familiar activity. Also sometimes seen after ‘kissing’ when bonded birds greet each other.


29. Turn away. Bird turns sideways to another (opponent?) lowers head and usually walks briskly away. May use a side-step/skipping action, keeping head down and eyes out of sight of opponent. May raise ‘chin’ feathers.


Interp: Af/N; Appeasement/submissiveness. Bird wishes to avoid conflict?


30. V wings. Head is drawn in to shoulders, wings raised up over back by extension of humerus/shoulder joint, and primaries flicked out and in 2 to 4 times by extending and flexing at wrist. Usually performed when the bird sees another familiar bird (or human) after a short absence.


Interp: Af. ‘Greeting’ given to birds (or humans) known to the bird?


31. Wing-drop/chuckle. Wings held down and out from body; body feathers held down tightly, beak partly open, tongue may be seen moving. Bird may make chuckling sound. Mating may follow in bonded pair.


Interp: Af; Courtship; bird is sexually aroused.


32. Wing flip. Bird flips one wing out and then back in by sudden extension at shoulder joint only, producing a single, soft flicking or clapping sound. May repeat this with other wing or same wing within a few seconds of first flip. Bird never flips both wings at the same instant. Body feathers held flat down but not always tightly. This identical behaviour is seen in a range of other parrot species.


Interp: N/Ag. Termination activity and/or bird does not wish to be disturbed? Bird may object to being disturbed by another, which it may then threaten, following a wing-flip. Self-comforting behaviour?


33. Wing-stretch. Both wings raised together once only, by extension from shoulder joint only (primaries not extended). May be followed by synchronous stretching of left or right limbs.


Interp: Af; Greeting offered to known bird (or human)? Commencement activity?


34. Yow! Bird makes sudden, irritated “Yow!” sound and adopts an upright stance. All feathers held down. Not seen in Af grey.


Interp: Ag; Bird objects (and rejects) something that has happened to it. Occurs during minor squabbles or rough play with another bird.


Copyright Greg Glendell.


www.greg-parrots.co.uk


Tel 0844 826 8456 May 2007


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very interesting..thanks Greg... made me understand a bit more the behaviour with my 2
 
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we get a lot of point 13 in this house which explains with having 5 - they must all be trying to show assertiveness. Also Jack does all the bonded pairs actions but with two birds - Holly and Leo xx
 
Thanks for sharing this a very comprehensive article on Grey's body language :thumbsup:
 
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