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Cockatiels are intelligent birds that like to sing for their owners. You can recognize a cockatiel by its distinctive crest, which is the long feathers near its head. The crests often contrast with their body color and give cockatiels an appearance that some people might call “crazy” or “wacky.”
Though they can be taught to say some words, understanding the cockatiel’s body language will help you know what your pet thinks and feels. They make several gestures with their bodies, and we’ll discuss some of the most common ones!
How Do Birds Communicate?
Scientists have found that birds and humans share many of the same genes related to brain development. This is why both species can use gestures as ways to communicate their feelings or needs with one another.
Birds of the same species communicate by reading each other’s gestures, and humans can also do that with cockatiels and their body language.
- See also: Where Should You Buy a Cockatiel?
Displays
There are two types of bird body language: social displays and asocial displays. Social displays include all the behaviors you’ll see when your pet interacts with another bird in its flock. In contrast, asocial displays are behaviors your pet will use to scare away an intruder or predator.
In the wild, cockatiels live in flocks of about five birds and sometimes more. They communicate by using a series of social displays, including head-bobbing, wing raising, tail fanning, spinning around on one foot, and much more! Here’s what you need to know.
Positive Body Language
When a cockatiel is happy or excited, it will issue a soft call and raise its head high. It may also bob its head back and forth or sway from side to side as if in rhythm with the sounds coming out of its mouth.
Apart from a happy dance, your cockatiel will display happiness or excitement through a series of other behaviors. For example, it will preen the feathers on its head and neck, extend its wings fully as it stretches its body up to full height, and then fluff out its tail feathers.
Cockatiels also display a soft call while eating, preening, and doing other things they like that signify pleasure or contentment.
Negative Body Language
If your cockatiel is scared, panicked, or stressed out because of an intruder, they will shake their head back and forth rapidly while crouching on the ground with feathers fluffed up to make themselves look bigger than they are. They will look at you sideways with one eye closed in an angry expression.
If this behavior continues, they may jump around erratically or run away. They may also hiss!
If your pet is hissing or shrieking at you, it probably means that they are angry! Other negative behaviors include turning their head away from what’s scaring them and hopping back toward the owner.
Solutions
It can be difficult to pinpoint the emotions your cockatiel might feel at any given time. However, by observing their body language, you can see whether or not they are enjoying themselves and if there’s anything that needs to change for them to feel better.
- If a bird seems scared of an intruder in the house, try leaving the room with them so they don’t feel so intimidated.
- If your pet has been hissing at you, try getting them a new toy or giving them attention—this might help calm their nerves!
- If the behavior continues and they start to show negative signs like not eating, it may be time for an avian vet appointment.
If you’re new to the wonderful world of cockatiels, you’ll need a great resource to help your birds thrive. We highly recommend taking a closer look at The Ultimate Guide to Cockatiels, available on Amazon.
This excellent book covers everything from the history, color mutations, and anatomy of cockatiels to expert housing, feeding, breeding, and health care tips.
Body Language for Health Issues
Cockatiels also use their body language to communicate when they are feeling ill. If you notice that your pet is not acting like themselves, it may be time to get them checked out by a vet.
If you notice your pet hiding or sleeping more than usual, it could indicate an underlying disease.
How to Read a New Bird’s Body Language
If you’ve just received a new bird, take time and observe their body language. They may be feeling tired or nervous in their new environment, so it’s essential that they feel comfortable with you! Once they settle in, you’ll get a better idea of how they act and what they are feeling.
Each bird will show signs when they are hungry, tired, or stressed. These clues come in the form of head and tail movements and vocalizations that you’ll learn to recognize over time. In a matter of weeks, you’ll be able to know what each signal means from your cockatiel.
Conclusion
Even though cockatiels love to sing, they can’t communicate their feelings with words, so it’s important to keep an eye out for body language. This includes feather-ruffling, head-bopping, hissing—which is usually representative of the bird’s emotional state—and other behaviors that indicate when your animal needs something from you!
By knowing these signals (or by reading this article), you can take care of your bird even better than before, ensuring a long and fruitful relationship. If you’re passionate about birds or just want to learn, our website has many articles and resources about cockatiels and various other birds.
- Related Read: Can Cockatiels and Parakeets Live Together in One Cage?
Featured Image: Geiger, Shutterstock
