Post by Casey on Nov 3, 2011 12:07:12 GMT -8
Cockatiels are fairly easy to read, body language wise. A big asset to their mood telling is their crest. They have a crest like cockatoos do as cockatiels are small cockatoos. Like cockatoos, a lot of their moods can be read by their crest.
So what can the crest say? How does it say it?
1. Flat against the birds head tightly, bunchy eyebrows, and feathers pulled tight.
This is an angry tiel. If you do not back off you may get bit, and get bit hard. The bird may hiss and lunge to try to scare you off. it is fairly easy to tell an angry tiel.
2. Crest straight up as tall as it will go, bird hissing, feathers pulled very tightly to body.
This is a very frightened cockatiel. It is nervous of your hands if untame or scared of something in its environment such as an object, sound, sight, ect.
3. Crest relaxed, and slightly raised.
Bird is happy and content
4. Crest slightly raised high, though not overly tall.
Bird is curious in a new object or sight.
Other behaviours:
Hissing: tiel is scared or nervous of something, threatening someone (owner or other bird, etc)
Screaming: can be many things, many do it when a loved one is out of sight, out of boredom, hormones, fear, or for fun.
Head Bobbing: If bird is male, the bird will bob their head as part of their male courtship. If young, the bird is begging for food and is unweaned. Unweaned birds should be brought back to the breeder to be finished handfeeding.
Beak Banging (males): males bang their beak against objects like a woodpecker, again this is male courtship.
Heart Wings (males): males spread their wings when they're singing. Just a funny quirk of their courtship.
Bat Bird/Eagle Wings: this is when a bird hangs from an object and spreads their wings. It can mean a few things and both males and females do this. It can mean the bird is claiming something as its territory or it is a very happy bird.
Fluffing up, standing on one leg: Tiel is resting happily. Ready to take a nap.
Beak Grinding: bird is settling for a nap, sleep, or is happy and content.
Mating behaviours: Females raise their tails, lower their heads and make a soft chirping noise. They may do this to an inanimate object or their owner or another bird. They see that object as their mate. Males may rub their vent (bum) on a perch, other bird, or their owner. This means the same thing. Best to discourage these behaviours.
Head Lowered: Bird is asking for its head pet, especially if your hand is nearby and the bird lowers its head. You should be happy, your bird likes you!
So what can the crest say? How does it say it?
1. Flat against the birds head tightly, bunchy eyebrows, and feathers pulled tight.
This is an angry tiel. If you do not back off you may get bit, and get bit hard. The bird may hiss and lunge to try to scare you off. it is fairly easy to tell an angry tiel.
2. Crest straight up as tall as it will go, bird hissing, feathers pulled very tightly to body.
This is a very frightened cockatiel. It is nervous of your hands if untame or scared of something in its environment such as an object, sound, sight, ect.
3. Crest relaxed, and slightly raised.
Bird is happy and content
4. Crest slightly raised high, though not overly tall.
Bird is curious in a new object or sight.
Other behaviours:
Hissing: tiel is scared or nervous of something, threatening someone (owner or other bird, etc)
Screaming: can be many things, many do it when a loved one is out of sight, out of boredom, hormones, fear, or for fun.
Head Bobbing: If bird is male, the bird will bob their head as part of their male courtship. If young, the bird is begging for food and is unweaned. Unweaned birds should be brought back to the breeder to be finished handfeeding.
Beak Banging (males): males bang their beak against objects like a woodpecker, again this is male courtship.
Heart Wings (males): males spread their wings when they're singing. Just a funny quirk of their courtship.
Bat Bird/Eagle Wings: this is when a bird hangs from an object and spreads their wings. It can mean a few things and both males and females do this. It can mean the bird is claiming something as its territory or it is a very happy bird.
Fluffing up, standing on one leg: Tiel is resting happily. Ready to take a nap.
Beak Grinding: bird is settling for a nap, sleep, or is happy and content.
Mating behaviours: Females raise their tails, lower their heads and make a soft chirping noise. They may do this to an inanimate object or their owner or another bird. They see that object as their mate. Males may rub their vent (bum) on a perch, other bird, or their owner. This means the same thing. Best to discourage these behaviours.
Head Lowered: Bird is asking for its head pet, especially if your hand is nearby and the bird lowers its head. You should be happy, your bird likes you!
