Anybody trying to teach their parrot to dance?

[Lesleybird]

Hi, I have an umbrella cockatoo that was a second hand bird that knew how to "dance" when we first got her. When their is some music playing with a good beat she will bounce up and down with her wings out and her crest up. She keeps perfect time to the beat of the music and often flips upside down and swings to the music.

Now we Marley, a 10 month old female Harlequin macaw that I want to teach to dance. I have started holding her on my arm or hand and bouncing her up and down to music and sometimes side to side. I need to try to teach her some more steps and maybe a turn around and some easy foot work.

Do any of you have dancing parrots? Did they teach it to themselves or did you teach it? How does one teach a bird to dance? I think that maybe I need to show my parrot some videos of "Snowball" the famous dancing cockatoo. If you have a dancing parrot do you have any training tips?
Lesley

 

[antoinette]

"Snowball" dances too beautiful I often watch his video's.
I am sure if your birds are near each other they will begin to copy each others habits.
I taught Mishka to dance, standing in front of him, swaying from side to side, bopping my head up and down, then tapping my hands alternatively.
Of course my kids think I am totally mad, when doing it, but it works.
Good luck

 

[MangoConure]

My conure dances. However he usually won't start until my Girlfriend and I start swaying or bobbing our heads. Once he sees us do it, he begins to copy us. Once he starts, we can leave him on his perch and he will continue to dance as long as we have music playing. It makes for a good laugh.

 

[Abzeez]

My amazon dances, but only to his own music. I call it his "video game call." It sounds like one of those old video games with the laser guns. He head bobs, spreads his tail feathers, and does his karate kid moves. And then after his is done he yells "Hit me with your best shot, FIRE AWAY." Wish I could get it on video, but he stops as soon as I try.

 

[Tammy]

My Amazon was already dancing a little to Happy Birthday when I got him. But I sing to him & dance with him daily & he's finally doing the turn with me to Hokey Pokey! This is my first bird ever & have only had for a year, but he spends all day & night by my side so he trusts me & I can pick up a wing or a foot to teach him.

 

[Crackers]

My bird dances on cue. I tell him to "get down" and he starts dancing, even without music. LOL

He did it on his own and then I rewarded him for it. He did it again and I told him to "get down" and rewarded him for the behavior. He now does it on cue.

 

[sonyzoo]

My B/G dances all the time music or not. He does a really good Stevie Wonder impression But if I want him to get him dancing I sway back and forth or bob my head.

 

[Allen Max]

It might be ridiculous for some one but i have tried to teach dance to my parrots.Unfortunately i could not teach him that how to dance but i have managed to teach him that how to sing songs.

 

[Ria]

When ever I play music to Damien I head bob to it like a mad woman.... in hopes he'll catch on and try to copy LOL! It's just an amusing concept!
To all those that have dancing parrots, FILMS PLEASE. I'd love to see them! ;D