Bird Rubbing

[QuackQuack]

I'm sitting here with Bode, the nanday, on my chest, and he doesn't want me to pet him but rather he wants to pet me. He is rhythmically rubbing his face against my face in circles and then he looks at me for a bit and starts again. If I try to pet, he protests and then hops back and rubs his face on mine. What is he doing? Is this something I should discourage? He feels very soft and it's nice that he seems to be accepting me two days into our arrangement.

 

[Mare Miller]

sorry, I've never heard of that happening, new one to me.

 

[evesta]

I'm no expert but my boys love getting their beaks near my face. Besides kisses they will rub their beaks or just leave them there on my cheek. I even rub my nose on their beak and they then give me those big, loving eyes. I think it's a flock thing. If you watch them together they pretty much do the same thing with each other when they are cuddling and preening.

 

[QuackQuack]

Makes me feel loved

 

[FutureDVM]

A lot of people call it "surfing". It's basically a sign of affection. Penny does the same thing to me when she sits on my shoulder.

 

[QuackQuack]

Surfing...very interesting! He really seems to enjoy this activity even more than getting scratches for himself!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

My galah will rub her cheek on mine, it's soooo cute.