Sudden Biting
Dateline: 05/19/99

The typical scenario is this. You've owned your bird for a year or so. It
has been your darling, adoring pet, never balking at cuddling and kisses.
Then one day with no warning, your bird strikes out and bites.  Most owners
express shock and disappointment when their beloved pet shows such
unexpected aggressive behavior. But how unexpected should this behavior
really be?

Most parrots cannot be considered domesticated pets. With the exception of
budgerigars and cockatiels, most species are only a few generations removed
from their wild ancestors.  Some birds sold as pets today may have had
wild-caught parents.  What does this mean?  It means that instincts rule.
If bird owners keep this in mind when training their pets, they will have a
healthier relationship with their bird and there will be far fewer painful
nips.

Keep in mind that in the wild birds can fly high in the trees to avoid
danger.  A bird with clipped wings obviously cannot do this. Some will fly
in a panic to the floor, thrashing about. This can be a very frightening and
unsettling experience for both the bird and the owner.  It is best to get
down low to where the bird is and not "swoop" down on it the way a predator
might in the wild.  Talk in a calm voice and ease the bird's panic.  The
other protection your bird has is to bite.  In almost all cases, you will
get warning signals. The trick is to learn how to recognize them before the
beak comes down on your finger (or worse, a lip or ear).

I have discovered a whole repertoire of behaviors with my Senegal parrot. I
have learned to pay close attention to them.  When Maxwell reached sexual
maturity at around four years of age, his personality changed. I had to
rebuild our relationship on different terms.  I had to learn to recognize
when he was over-stimulated (it is often called "overload" in amazons) and
likely to snap.  Mainly I was the cause of the over-stimulation. We often
played a game called "The Tail Thief", which he loved as a young bird, but
at age four he would become very aggressive if I played the game. I've
relegated the game to memory lane now.  Many owners of pet birds become
disappointed when they cannot play with their bird in the same manner as
they mature.  It is very important to accept your bird as an individual and
not try to force behaviors just because you enjoy them.  I have found that
once owners try to understand their bird's moods rather than trying to
change their moods, the relationship blossoms again.

There are some pretty universal signs when a bird is saying, "Back off".
Your relationship will be the most healthy when it involves reciprocal
"respect".  If my Senegal puffs himself up and his eyes start to flash, I
don't reach in saying, "Oh it's sooo cute!" I calm him down first using a
soothing voice.   Max  is very well trained for stepping up on command, but
there are times when I can tell by his body posture--feathers out a bit
(almost arched), individual feathers a bit on end, some extra loud clicking
of the beak, eyes flashing--that he might just be too stimulated and could
bite.  I really don't believe these bites mean he's angry at me, just that
he very excited and can't quite control himself .   Sometimes these signs
are subtle, sometimes they're done in an outright "flash" dance.  Below is a
series of photos, from a content bird to a visibly agitated bird. While I
can usually calm Max down from this "stance," I don't just reach in fast
with my hand if he begins to show these signals.

•  A very content look with wide pupils and a "fat" satisfied stance.

•  Food soothes the savage beast! Max loves dried cranberries.

•  Beak clicking, arched wings, pupils narrow to "pins"

•  Feathers "stand up" a bit

•  The dipped head is typical of this agitated state.

The foundation you build with a young bird will make all the difference in
how you can handle him when he reaches maturity.  Books on parrot behavior
may help you, but the best way to learn the signs is to watch your bird and
make a note of specific reactions. For example, "When I move quickly like
that he spins around. This means I've startled him and an instinctive
response has kicked in. I need to talk to him first."   One special thing to
look for is when your bird seems to be in a trance-like state.  This is a
natural protective behavior.  In the wild parrots "take turns" standing
watch for the flock for any danger. They are in a hyper-alert state at that
time, blocking out all extraneous (i.e., no dangerous) stimuli.  A sudden
movement or threatening approach during that "trance" can make them lunge
instinctively.

It is important to note that birds that have shown aggressive behavior
should NOT be allowed to sit on your shoulder. A startled bird can bite your
face and do serious injury.  Certain species, such as Amazon parrots, should
be trained to sit on your hand or wrist, never on your shoulder. While
re-training a bird used to sitting on your shoulder can be challenging, it
is not impossible.

All of your bird's seemingly unpredictable behaviors can be largely
predictable if you accept that they are part of a whole repertoire of
natural instincts.  Unfortunately, most people give up after the first few
bites and don't understand why their sweet baby has become a piranha.  By
establishing a few basic rules early on in your relationship with your bird,
you can work through these behavioral issues, and your pet does not have to
end up on the adoption merry-go-round.

This information was obtained from Rose, a dedicated member of the Ringneck Mailing list.