Troublesome behaviour or behavioural troubles?
There exist more than 350 different species of parrots. Because of this great diversity, any description of their behaviour will necessarily be broad-strokes and imperfect. A starting point is to
know how to differentiate troublesome – but perfectly natural -- behaviour from behavioural problems. Since the 1970s, these undomesticated species have become more and more present
in our homes, because the techniques of breeding by hand have advanced to the point of developing animals that are seemingly “adapted”. However, psittacidae are by nature poorly
adapted to life with human beings, as they are destructive, noisy and rarely respectful of human ideals of cleanliness. These quirks make up the bird’s ethogram: they represent normal
behaviour. It is important to be aware of this to avoid disappointment and dissuade abandonment.
Screeching:
This is normal. In the wild, parrots spend between 10 and 40% of their time communicating and using, mostly but not exclusively, cries to do so. Certain species possess vocal capacities that are more developed than others. African Grey Parrots (Psittacus Erithacus) for example are well known for their ability to imitate the human voice. The Grey even has a specific talent to mimic the range of the human voice to the point that it can be difficult to distinguish between the two. Normal vocal activity is mainly late in the day or early in the morning, at day break. The activity lasts 5 to 20 minutes on average (depending on the species) and involves both sexes, contrary to what is observed with canaries for example for whom 90% of singers are male. A common misunderstanding has led many parrot owners to aggravate the situation: running to the bird to hush it the moment it cries is unfortunately a sure-fire way to cause it to scream even more loudly. Be careful: certain vocalisations are a cry for attention, but others can communicate frustration or fear. Such cries of alarm or distress are easy to distinguish from demands for attention because the sound is different. In all cases, constant screeching and crying are considered abnormal — consult a veterinarian specialising in birds.
Destruction:
Inside a house, a bird left to itself will chew furniture, notably those made of wood, which it can also ruin simply by moving about. A parrot’s beak is a very versatile tool and the bird will use it to climb surfaces. In captivity — that is, in an apartment, a house, or even a cage — food is much more readily available than in the wild and the time required to search it out is reduced yet the need for activity remains the same. In nature, searching for food represents between 40 to 60% of the bird’s total activities. Time no longer needed for seeking out food is therefore allocated to other activities. If parrots are deprived of toys or social contact or simply do not have enough of either, they can spend part of their time playing with objects which are not intended for them and which can be costly to replace (cell phones, glasses, etc.). These activities are “inappropriate” but are not always behavioural problems.
Aggressive behaviour:
Attacking is a behaviour more frequently observed in captivity than in the wild. When free, a parrot will prefer to flee or use different forms of communication to resolve conflict. In captivity, if the bird is in a cage or has clipped wings, escape to safe areas (that is, high spots) becomes impossible. Aggressiveness can therefore be its only option. The means of breeding and the bird’s origins are generally responsible for its level of tolerance for being handled. Hand breeding will theoretically make contact easier. Despite everything, certain parrots can be aggressive independent of the type of breeding they have received, which is often the case in painful attacks. This is also sometimes true when they are raised among aggressive adults. “Normal” attacks are very often learned aggression: if to remain in its cage or on the contrary to avoid being locked up in it the parrot learns that biting is effective, the owner is actually responsible for inciting or increasing the aggressiveness of the bird. It is always best to invite the parrot to enter or exit the cage of its own accord.
Fear:
Behaviour inspired by fear is a necessary adjustment in the survival of a species living in a sometimes hostile environment. In captivity, fear manifests itself either by escape or at the very least retreat to the back of the cage when the bird cannot flee. Other possible causes include a lack of familiarity with human beings, forceful means of capture or restraint, and the inappropriate use of punishment. Depending on the degree of sociability of the bird, retreat from an unknown person is common. However, fearful behaviour — that is, recurring attitudes and postures that express fear in the absence of any logical explanation (for a parrot) — should be viewed as a serious behavioural problem that should be diagnosed professionally.
Author: Doctor and Animal Behaviourist Muriel ALNOT-PERRONIN, March 2014.