Help me with green wing body language!

[Lynn57]

I'm wondering if there is some good info out there where I can learn about the body language of the green wing. As you know I am new to macaw's and have just recently got a 7-10 yr old female. Today a friend came over to see her and she got quit excited (I think) puffing all her feathers up and bobbing up and down. When I went to pick her up she raised all her feathers and lowered her head looking right at me. So I opted to postpone asking her to step up lol Just a feeling I had...but maybe I read her wrong?
thanks in advance!
cheers
Lynn

 

[Birdman666]

Well there are various "poofy feather" postures, but bobbing up and down is definitely excited and happy to see you.

Poofy feathers followed by wing spread postures indicates either defensiveness, or excitement.

Poofy head feathers when touching generally means "scratch me there."

Poofy head feathers when hunched over, and ready to spring out at you either means a lunge bite is coming, or I want to play... be prepared for either possibility by using the palm of your hand and pushing side to side, on the fat part of the beak.

If it was a lunge bite, that's "You don't scare me bird."
If it was let's play, that's "Game on!"

So, it's body posture more than poofy.

 

[TessieB]

Always good to follow your gut instinct.

 

[kendrafitz]

With my GW feather poofiness is generally good. Sometimes accompanied with head bobbing for regurgitation. Which she thinks is good, I think it's icky.

Mohawk only feather poofiness is BAD here. If it is accompanied with eye pinning, crouching & wing spread it is really bad. Run for cover, quick! Lol

I agree with what both Birdman666 & TessieB say.

It takes a little while, but once you get to know her well you will know exactly what she is telling you.