Welcoming a parrot into your home means embracing a unique companion with behaviors vastly different from traditional pets like cats and dogs. Many owners find themselves trying to decipher their parrot’s actions, often falling into the common trap of attributing human emotions and intentions to them. This can lead to misunderstandings, as parrots are not simply feathered humans; they are intelligent creatures with their own complex communication systems, largely shaped by their recent wild ancestry. Understanding a bird’s behaviors is key to a harmonious relationship.
Owners may misinterpret actions like toy destruction as “anger issues” or view deliberate mischief, such as pulling keys off a keyboard, as acts of spite. However, these behaviors often stem from a parrot’s natural instincts and communication methods. Unlike domesticated animals that have been selectively bred for millennia to coexist with humans, most larger parrots are only a few generations removed from their wild counterparts. This means their fundamental behaviors are still rooted in a natural, social environment, not in human societal norms or tasks.
Parrots, in the wild, live within intricate social structures with well-defined communication methods. While this language is clear to other birds, it can be challenging for humans to interpret. Imagine the frustration of a parrot trying to convey its needs or desires to a human who doesn’t understand. This communication gap is a two-way street, often leading to behaviors like biting and screaming as the parrot attempts to make itself understood.
Biting, for instance, is a direct and clear message from a parrot: “Do not touch me,” “Stay out of my cage,” or “I do not want to do what you are asking.” It’s important to recognize that biting is rarely a parrot’s first resort. More often, it indicates that the human has missed earlier, subtler warning signals and attempts at communication. Some species of parrots exhibit these signals in ways that can be easily overlooked by their human companions.
Screaming, too, is a form of communication, albeit a difficult one to comprehend at times. It can signify a call for attention (“come here”), a desire for space (“go away”), or a general alert that something is amiss. Persistent screaming often arises from a feeling of being misunderstood, and over time, a clever parrot may learn to use biting and screaming as tools to influence their owner’s actions.
Instead of labeling biting and screaming as “problem” behaviors, it’s more accurate to view them as breakdowns in communication. When these behaviors result in injury, it’s easy to react emotionally and assume the bird dislikes you or is acting out unreasonably. However, every action a parrot takes serves a purpose, driven by its own needs and instincts. It screams to draw your attention to something it wants or needs, bites to create distance, and may destroy furniture to satisfy its natural urge to chew. A parrot’s primary focus is on itself and its immediate needs.
It is crucial to approach parrot behavior with understanding and patience. Remember that we are the ones who have brought these birds into our homes, a foreign environment for them. Appreciating their attempts to communicate, however imperfectly, can help bridge the gap and alleviate the frustration and hurt feelings that can arise. By moving past emotional reactions, you can begin to see a clearer path toward resolving these “communication breakdowns.” It’s a challenging but rewarding process, acknowledging that “They are birds. We are humans. This isn’t supposed to be easy.”
Author Patty Jourgensen specializes in avian health, behavior and nutrition and has been working with and caring for rescue birds since 1987.
