r/cockatiel • u/FluffysDad • 4h ago
Advice Need advice on behaviour
My cockatiel is around 7 months old and recently she has started doing this open wing action (video attached) while chirping or while singing her favourite song. Both videos attached.
Just wanted to check what does this action mean and if I should change something if there are any issues. Otherwise I enjoy seeing this as a dance move from her while singing.
32
12
u/bird_cheek_red 3h ago
Big Wings! So pretty! She might flap real fast also. It’s very cute
3
u/FluffysDad 3h ago
Oh yes! She does that once a day usually after a long preening session. We thought she was just cleaning her small dust out of her cage like this
8
10
9
u/Adorable-Light-8130 2h ago
Yeah that's a boy bird 😆 And he's doing happy dances. I don't think he'll care being referred to as a girl though. Just a happy birb 🐦
10
u/ILikeBird 1h ago
I’m willing to bet this is a male hahaha. Expect those pearls to begin disappearing over the next few molts.
8
u/No-Mortgage-2052 4h ago
Well i think hes claiming his cage although it seems someone may have taught him that.
5
u/Other_Particular8927 3h ago
“See? Look at me!!! I am big birb!!! Come here females!!!”
3
u/Other_Particular8927 3h ago
Oh i just realized, are you sure this is a female? Lol
5
3
u/MaleficentSnow124 3h ago
My only thought is if she’s seeing a reflection or shadow of herself somewhere? Otherwise just general cuteness
5
3
u/Optimal-Level4237 2h ago
I'd say that she's a little bored in the small space all alone by her lonesome. She's doing that to entertain herself.
3
3
1
u/HoneySerpant 2h ago
Yes I believe this is happy bird behaviour but I cannot be certain as I am not a specialist! I did just want to pop in and say as well you should think about covering the bottom bars with newspaper so your little one has a flat surface or get some flat surface perches for your baby to stand on. Flat surfaces and natural perch varieties and textures are important for feet health <3.
1
u/FluffysDad 1h ago
Thanks for the suggestion. Just ordered few flat surface perches. Till the time it comes, I gave her a temporary flat surface perch.
1
u/CrowhavenFarm 2h ago
She could be flapping her wings while walking on the cage floor because she is uncomfortable, and frustrated the floor is not a solid surface. She cannot rest her feet and hunker down, because she has to keep her toes curled on the floor bars all the time to maintain her balance. (She has to curl her toes on the perches all the time and might be wanting a break from that.) Plus, you can see the cage floor wobble when she walks on it so it is not sturdy enough for her.
My tiel had a solid cage floor (covered with paper) and liked to curl up and sleep in a corner. That gave his toes and feet a break from having to curl on perches all the time. That is impossible with a floor made of bars. Plus I would think a solid floor would be easier and more comfortable for a bird to walk on.
I would take a thick piece of cardboard (covered with paper to catch pee and poop) and cover the entire floor. Then you can see for yourself if your tiel's behavior changes, and if your bird becomes happier and more comfortable.
1
u/FluffysDad 1h ago
Thanks for the suggestion. Just ordered few flat surface perches. Till the time it comes, I gave her a temporary flat surface perch
1
u/Ourilan 1h ago edited 1h ago
This is could be a number of things:
- Excitement!
- Can the bird see you? She might be asking you for attention/to let her out.
- Repetitive behaviour because she is bored and feels confined. That cage is nice, but looks a bit too small to leave a cockatiel in for extended periods of time. With cages, bigger is always better. Some more perch variety and different toys might help, too.
1
u/FoxiCrumpet 1h ago
Put paper on the cotton of the cage. Cover all of it. Paper liners on Amazon. You can also put food on the paper and birds like foraging
1
1
u/lurkybrain 18m ago
I have a 23 year old guy who does this, and I can confirm, he is happy as a clam. Another commented "big wings!" He is LOVES hearing this for his goofy behavior. It is happy bird stuff 😂
38
u/Tankerspam 4h ago
This is just happy bird stuff.
If I see this behavior I'll usually go open the door as well, as sometimes they want to do zoomies, but I don't pick them up... I don't want to interupt them lol.