Movie Bites Six Ways!

Among parrots, biting and beaking are a distinct and developed medium of communication, as rich, varied, and nuanced as their vocalizations and body language.

Like humans, birds stand upright on 2 legs. But having wings instead of arms and hands, they use their beaks and tongues for many of the same things for which we use hands and fingers. Most parrots already use one foot as a hand to hold and manipulate objects, so their beak and tongue give them a second hand, allowing even greater control and deeper exploration. The beak is actually the more important "hand." It has a much stronger grip than the fingers/toes and and very fine control and coordination. Both beak and tongue also have many nerve endings, making them important tactile sensory instruments. They are the bird's most direct and intimate way of knowing its world (and probably one reason you see parrots running their beaks and tongues all over their cages and whatever else they encounter).

The beak sends as well as receives information. As a form of communication, biting and beaking express a whole range of emotions—affection and trust, playful taunting, warning, irritation, anger, fear, and more. A bite may be a defense of personal space or a part of snuggling and allopreening. It may mean simply "No" or "Ow!" or it may be an urgent "Help! Get away from this danger!" or an outraged "You jerk! How dare you!?" Undoubtedly, this form of communication is important in wild parrot flocks, where birds have been observed perching very close together, chattering, preening, squabbling and playing with one another.

It's important for people who have companion parrots to understand "beak language." Paco (our 3-year old Blue-Crowned Conure) demonstrates several different kinds of biting—playful, affectionate, gently-disciplinary, and angry.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• parrot
• behavior
• blue
• crown
• conure
• bite
• biting
• communication
• bird

[babybluesrus]

Not sure if you are on here much as this video is old, BUt my new boy fluffs out just like this when hes talking to me and trys to bite when i'm not looking. is this because he wants my attention or wants me to go?? please message me if you are able ;0)

[conuropsis]

@babybluesrus New bird? Know anything about his background? Any trust issues? Does he let you pet or preen him?

How does he fluff his feathers? Like the beginning or the end of this video? Does he look relaxed or tense? Does he bob and weave his head or lift his wings, which might suggest he wants attention?

The fact that he bites when he's talking to you implies it may be playful (which still can hurt). But it’s hard to know without seeing the behavior in context. Can you post a video?

(8:>

[DrevikkDrevik]

My bluecrowns bite differently. Grover will give a warning bite & then progress harder (unless he thinks that you are making moves on his woman then look out ! He rarely draws blood. Loki, however, rarely bites anymore. However if she does bite, blood will be drawn and a bruise given (she won't regret it either) Anyone, who is considering owning a medium or larger parrot should know they crack walnuts with their beaks and can use the same force on fingers. Also, be aware of their screams

[conuropsis]

Yes. We just got a second BCC who bites more as you describe Grover. Most of what you see in this video could be described as light nipping - both playful and irritated. But Paco often bites "gradually" (with increasing pressure) too. From all I've heard/read/seen, macaws and Aratinga conures are mainly "gradualists." Amazons and some other parrots, by contrast, seem to have just 2 bite settings: "off" and "on."

[Mr291229]

Question what are thoughts on the smaller parrots, like the green cheeked conure, parrotlets, parakeets, are they the same with their bites and aggression.

[conuropsis]

Our cockatiels have a 'bite vocabulary' similar to Paco's (expressing affection, irritation, warning, wanting attention...), though their 'style' is different. I know very little about parrotlets and have no direct experience with either budgies or Pyrrhura conures. I've heard of hard budgie bites (they don't like to be touched); GCCs have a reputation for volatility (one friend called them "little green hand grenades").

[pyrrhuraphile]

@Mr291229 With my Crimson Bellied Conure (also a Pyrrhura like a GCC) I taught him not to bite hard by screaching "BEAK!!!" every time he hurt me. It sort of startled him, and stopped him, and eventually I saw a little light go on in his bird brain, and he decided he would not bite any more. He was very very very beaky though, as I never discouraged him from using his beak as a form of gentle communication. I would also allow him to grip my finger very firmly for support when he needed to.

[pyrrhuraphile]

@Mr291229 My GCC is much the same in her range of beak communication. She uses the same language when we hurt a pin feather: her nips alway sting, are "noisey", but never breaks the skin. Not getting what she wants, or not being put where she wants will get you a light, quick nip. If she's feeling grumpy, she will gnaw on a finger with increasing strength, until you take it away. Once a year or so she might get annoyed enough about something to just barely puncture the skin with a quick nip.

[onmilo]

great video! My experience with my peach fronted conure mirrors your with your blue crown.

[TheMadmoggy]

Our cockatiel has a few different bites & we have learnt to know what they mean. People also need to learn not to smack or flick their birds in the head. A big no no. Our bird doesn't get puffy when he's angry, he goes all long & skinny & stands really tall. He either nips or he BITES!!! which feels like needles. ouch..