Check out the comprehensive behavior information from the leading experts in the parrot behavior community. What you should teach your parrot, how to interface with them, sexing your parrot and why its important to know, feather destructive behavior, self mutilation, understanding sexual and breeding behaviors, handling biting parrots, handling screaming parrots, phobic behavior, cage territoriality, parrot behavior myths, imprinting, toe tapping in Eclectus, hierarchy, and getting help from a professional.
| THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Parrots are prey animals, which means that predators hunt them for food. They have to be wary and vigilant in the wild. Just because they are domestically raised, their predator responses do not go away. If for some reason a parrot-family bird becomes traumatized, he or she may go into "prey mode," which means that the bird has a strong fear response. With some parrots this can result in aggressive behavior. With others it can turn into phobic behavior. It is not always clear as to what caused the fear response but the bird often becomes afraid of almost everything including the person who was his best friend. The best way to get him back is to as "un-predator like " as possible. This means being submissive - little or no direct eye contact, lowered head, quiet conversation, and the opportunity for him to come to you rather than you trying to make him come to you. It works! - Sally Blanchard |