NORTON'S BEHAVIOR TIPS

Parrot Behavior 101

Parrots are much smarter than we humans give them credit for. They can understand even the most subtle of commands. The tone of your voice or a raised finger can be a behavior modification tool.

My first understanding of this was with Sophie, our Severe mini macaw. Unfortunately, one of the two phrases she could speak when we brought her home was “Bad Bird”. She associated it with bad behavior and would say it when playfully attacking her toys. One day another member of the flock was misbehaving and I was giving him a stern lecture. Sophie also chimed in saying, “Bad bird, bad bird”. I had not spoken these words but she knew from the tone of my voice that the other bird was being reprimanded. Her intelligence astonished me and also gave me a good laugh.

Cory, our Illiger’s mini macaw, has also shown us this same ability. He has this habit of flapping his wings madly when I take him in and out of his cage in the morning and at night. Now when he starts the flapping I look at him sternly, say “Stop” firmly, raise the first finger on my free hand, and stop walking. I keep doing this until we reach his cage or perch. Cory has picked up on this so well that sometimes I don’t have to say “Stop”. Raising my finger is enough to get him to stop flapping his wings.

Know your birds and let them know you. Be expressive when you talk to them and look into their eyes. They may not always understand the words you say but they will understand the meaning behind the words, the emotion. Treat them as the intelligent animal they are. Parrots know when they are loved and respected and will respond accordingly.