Post by Casey on Nov 21, 2011 9:57:51 GMT -8
Lovebirds do not have a crest to help express emotions visually like cockatiels. They are a little harder to read that cockatiels, but what moods you can see, are quite clear.
Beak grinding: Bird is content and relaxed and is settling down for bed or for a nap.
This is beak grinding:
Making "Fart" noises: Bird is annoyed or ticked off. This is often accompanied by squeals and chirps in an agitated manner.
Feathers on head pulled tight, hackles raised and lunging forward with beak open: Lovebird is really mad, territorial, or agitated. Best to back off before you get bit.
Female holding body low, hackles raised, fluffed up, open beak: Nesty and very aggressive. Keep away!
Chirping while napping: Bird is happy and content. They also often will do this because their ancestors in the wild would do this to trick predators into thinking they were awake.
Napping on belly: Bird feels safe and is relaxing. Usually done in a hut, tent, or ledge. If done on cage floor, please bring your bird to the vet. If this behaviour however is accompanied by lethargy, fluffiness, fatique, or inability to move, bring your bird to the vet ASAP. Any signs of illness and the bird will need to see a vet.
Beating up a toy: Bird is relieving anger and tension, this is how a lot of lovebirds play. Let them have the toy they are banging around, it will save your fingers!
Tucking: Female lovebirds strip paper, tree bark, wood pieces, etc and tuck them into feathers on the rump. They usually use this to build nests. This is a peach faced lovebird behaviour as the eye ring species tend to carry nesting material in their beak.
An example of tucking:
Beak grinding: Bird is content and relaxed and is settling down for bed or for a nap.
This is beak grinding:
Making "Fart" noises: Bird is annoyed or ticked off. This is often accompanied by squeals and chirps in an agitated manner.
Feathers on head pulled tight, hackles raised and lunging forward with beak open: Lovebird is really mad, territorial, or agitated. Best to back off before you get bit.
Female holding body low, hackles raised, fluffed up, open beak: Nesty and very aggressive. Keep away!
Chirping while napping: Bird is happy and content. They also often will do this because their ancestors in the wild would do this to trick predators into thinking they were awake.
Napping on belly: Bird feels safe and is relaxing. Usually done in a hut, tent, or ledge. If done on cage floor, please bring your bird to the vet. If this behaviour however is accompanied by lethargy, fluffiness, fatique, or inability to move, bring your bird to the vet ASAP. Any signs of illness and the bird will need to see a vet.
Beating up a toy: Bird is relieving anger and tension, this is how a lot of lovebirds play. Let them have the toy they are banging around, it will save your fingers!
Tucking: Female lovebirds strip paper, tree bark, wood pieces, etc and tuck them into feathers on the rump. They usually use this to build nests. This is a peach faced lovebird behaviour as the eye ring species tend to carry nesting material in their beak.
An example of tucking:
