When a bird bobs his head, many people assume its because the bird is begging for food and is really hungry. But Im about to show you video as proof this isnt the case. In fact, birds of all different age ranges bob their heads for many different reasons. I even received this comment after posting this entry, which I found very interesting and helpful:
“My Yellow Headed Amazon did that all his life (about 55 years). I figured out when it was a happy, angry or playful bob.” -Angela Kuester
Young birds bob their heads because theyre young, they are still babies and its a baby bird behavior. It can be done before or after eating, when the bird is hungry or full. Dont believe me? I took a sequence of videos of my birds recently in Erie, PA just to capture it all on video for everyone to see. Their behavior before eating is the exact same after and I gave them banana and pellets; foods I know fill them up the most and the fastest (sweet potato would also be on that list but I didnt have any at the time.) The video at the top of this entry is of my parrots drying off from their shower, they hadnt had dinner yet but they had eaten raspberries, granola and a little bit of yogurt just a couple hours before.
And last but not least, waiting for them to dry off after their meal, completely full… and still – gasp – head bobbing.
We specifically had our eldest macaw, Comet (yellow dominant Camelot macaw) looked at by 3 different avian vets because of how fast he tends to digest his meals compared to the other birds, and because his behavior is more baby-ish than any of our birds. Jinx (blue throated macaw) is the youngest and probably acts the oldest, and Tusa is the youngest and acts older than his brother, Comet. In case that paragraph was too confusing: Comet = Oldest Tusa = Middle Jinx = Youngest. We were even nervous about PDD because of how fast food seemed to go through Comet; but it turns out hes just a much slower developer than the others. Perhaps its the recessive genes from being a second generation hybrid, perhaps its just genetics in general. Itll just take him a bit longer to snap out of his babyness than the others. But our macaws are still young, and still babies in our eyes, but I wanted to at least show in video the difference between full and empty stomachs with them so you guys didnt assume otherwise. And also offer the peace of mind that it was something we looked into 3 different times with respected vets just to be sure.
“My CAG started doing the head bob thing within the last year or so…she is 2. We do it back to her so we thought it was a game.” -Jill Davies
The bottom line? Head bobbing isnt a sign that your bird is super hungry. Its a natural behavior that even adult birds do sometimes for a variety of reasons.
Article by Jamieleigh Womach. She has been working with parrots and toucans since the age of 17. She isn’t homeless but is home less than she prefers to be. She travels the world with her husband, daughter, and a flockful of parrots whom she shares the stage with.
Polly May Really Want a Cracker
Parrot head bobbing has become a source of entertainment. There are tons of videos out there that feature parrots bobbing their heads. But they’re doing this behavior to get more “likes” from their fans. In fact, they may be doing it simply for some parrot bird food.
“When a baby parrot begs for food, they bob their heads,” says Dr. At the Hills, New York-based Veterinary Center of Birds and Exotics, Laurie Hess, DVM, diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice), “This signal should be observed by owners of unweaned parrots, as it may suggest that their birds are ravenous and require feeding.” ”.
To ensure your baby parrot is getting the nutrition he needs, stock up on nutritious baby parrot food. Foods like Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding formula baby bird food give baby birds high levels of nutrients to help them gain weight and reduce the need for overnight feedings. Look for foods that contain probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes that support gentle digestion.
When adult parrots are craving attention more than anything else, they may bob their heads.
The EcoTarium’s wildlife manager, Johanna Black, explains that this behavior is a result of a young bird bobbing its head to be fed by its parents. Worcester, Massachusetts
It is often observed with birds that crave interaction with their owners or keepers, she says. If it’s attention your parrot craves, bird perches and bird toys is an excellent way to bond and interact with your bird. The JW Pet Hol-ee Roller bird toy is made from 100 percent natural rubber and can be hung from the top of the cage. You can ring the bell to pique your bird’s curiosity or pack it with bits of paper, wood or bird treats to stimulate his natural foraging instincts.
The Super Bird Creations peacock senior bird toy is designed for senior birds, allowing them to perch, climb, and chew on the various textures of pine slats, strings, and wooden beads. Your bird can benefit from an enriching activity that relieves stress, boredom, and head bobbing by chewing on various textures.
“About a year ago, my CAG began performing the head bob.” she is 2. We assumed it was a game since we were returning the favor. ” -Jill Davies.
We specifically had three different avian veterinarians examine our oldest macaw, Comet (the yellow dominant Camelot macaw), because he tends to digest his food more quickly than the other birds and because of his more infantile behavior than any of the other macaws. Tusa is the youngest and appears older than his brother Comet, while Jinx, the blue-throated macaw, is the youngest and most likely appears the oldest. Just in case the previous sentence wasn’t clear enough: Comet = Oldest Tusa = Middle Jinx = Youngest Comet’s apparent speed at processing food made us even more anxious about PDD, but as it turns out, he’s just a far slower developer than the others. Maybe it’s just genetics in general, or maybe it’s the recessive genes from being a second generation hybrid. Just like with the others, it will take him a little longer to get over his infantile state. Though our macaws are still young and, to us, still babies, I wanted to at least demonstrate for you guys in a video the difference between their empty and full stomachs so you wouldn’t assume otherwise. Additionally, provide the assurance that we checked into it three times with reputable veterinarians just to be sure.
Article by Jamieleigh Womach. Since she was seventeen years old, she has worked with parrots and toucans. While not homeless, she spends less time at home than she would like to. She travels the globe accompanied by her spouse, daughter, and a large group of parrots that she performs on stage with.
“That was my Yellow-Headed Amazon’s lifetime behavior for roughly 55 years. I could tell if it was a joyful, irate, or playful Bob. ” -Angela Kuester.
Many people believe that when a bird bobs its head, it’s really hungry and pleading for food. However, I’m going to show you a video to prove otherwise. In actuality, birds of all ages bob their heads for a variety of reasons. Even after publishing this entry, I got this comment, which I thought was really insightful and useful:
Bobbing With Excitement or Anger
Here’s another theory to help you explain the enigmatic question, “Why do parrots bob their head up and down?” IAABC Parrot Division Chair Stephanie Edlund, a Certified Parrot Behavior Consultant, says that excited parrots can also display this behavior.
Before you feed or play with your parrot, for example, they could become excited. But wait, there’s more. “They bob their heads during recitation, which is a form of courtship behavior, and occasionally even during moments of extreme anger,” the source claims.
FAQ
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