Is she OK? Body language questions

[Soyajam]

Hello guys! Helicopter parront here to ask a few questions about behaviour I've observed in Remi. Some of them I'm pretty sure are OK and others have toted as signs of illness in some parrots, although I've observed no other indicators of ill-health (like weight loss, not eating, lack of energy etc). Curious to hear thoughts and experiences of your own birds!

• When playing with her toys (in a way I would imagine is "hyper"), she will attack and growl at her toys (wings up, charging with beak). I think this is playful but I imagine it's exactly the body language that she'd exhibit if she wanted to tear something up for real?
• When she's content I've noticed she'll droop her wings, as if shes so relaxed she can't be bothered holding them up. We've had some hot weather here but it doesn't seem to correlate with heat. If she notices something scary/annoying/interesting she'll pick them up right away
• When she's on my shoulder (and falling asleep!) while doing the whole beak-grinding and fluffing, she'll also stomp her feet a few times. Like a bloody elephant! I wondered if this is the infamous "toe tapping" but it's not a toe, it's the whole foot. She also flips her wings a couple of times in this sleepy state but I'm pretty sure she's just getting comfortable as she never does this otherwise.
• Last one - my partner loves to squish Remi and give her smooches, he is very gentle but I can't tell if she likes it or not. She doesn't struggle and just sits there as if she's waiting for it to be over lol - Is that an Eckie freeze and she's actually uncomfortable? Or is she sort of enjoying it and being all "Gosh dad could you stop squishing me now, you're embarrassing me in front of those wood pigeons outside!"

Thanks for answering my silly questions. I'm fascinated about this body language stuff.

I read a post on the internet somewhere years ago that Eckies also communicate by adjusting the tilt of their feathers so their colours look more/less intense? (The example I remember was a male eckie who made his head look super bright when he was feeling aggressive) Has anybody actually seen/read a resource that talks about this?

OK I'll be quiet now. Thanks!

 

[LordTriggs]

I'll go based on my observations of Ekkie behavior I've seen and read so do take what I say with a pinch of salt.

1. Sounds like exciting play time, over-zealous play and murder look very similar in bird world. I've seen lots of stuff of many different birds playing and when they're having most fun they're charging with their wings open, screaming away.

2. where she's young she probably haven't learnt yet how to hold her wings tight against her for prolonged periods so I would assume she'll sort that out on her own.

3. Feet stomping I don't know to be honest. Maybe get a video? It'll be cute at least haha

4. I would refrain from doing that unless she appears to be enjoying it. If her eyes are wide open during a cuddle then I would take that as her not enjoying it, if she's got them closed she could just be in bliss. Really you need to gauge the situation with that to see what she likes

 

[Carl_Power]

I know little but maybe dropping the wings is just tiredness from using too much energy playing. When my Quaker first learned how fun playing was, he was so slow the next day and it worried me but he was just tired from having a great time.

The stomping could just be stretching of the legs and feet or just doing it for fun. If your birdy is eating and is happy enough, i wouldnt worry too much, we all change as we grow x

 

[chris-md]

1) normal. Ekkies can be aggressive with toys sometimes

2) normal.

3) my boy does this too, only when he’s sleepy. not toe tapping. To tapping is much more subtle, just a single toe lifting up and dropping down while perching. Anyone who doesn’t know anything about ekkies would actually mistake it for a deliberate act, even a content act since it’s most noticeable when they are quietly perching. I don’t know what the stomping is but I more liken it to that electric jolt humans sometimes get as they are falling asleep. Nothing I ever worry about

4) ekkies are what are referred to as polite animals. If hey don’t like something they either freeze up (“I hope it doesn’t see me and goes away!” Or will actively push the item away rather than fully lash out like other birds would. Freezing is not USUALLY a good sign. But at the same time something like what you described, she would have absolutely lashed out with this repeated “harrassing” behavior. Politeness only goes so far if the offender doesn’t take the hint. Parker sometimes freezes up after I give him a kiss. Sometimes you can tell by looking at the eyes. A happy frozen ekkie often squints the eyes.

As for feathers, I wouldn’t put too much stock in that. Their language can be subtle, yes, and their feathers are known to be quite different from other birds. Maybe there is somethign to it. But ultimately they are parrots, who can’t help but overtly project their feelings. So you don’t have to pay attention to feathers. An aggressive bird will let you know they are feeling aggressive.

I have the scars to prove it...

 

[Uglow]

1- totally normal. just don't stick your hand in there to participate.
2- when Uglow is super tired he drops his wings. it's scared me a few times, thinking he was sick but he perks right back up once he's ready to get moving again. Usually with a quick stretch.
3- not sure about this one. Uglow does stomp and growl when I stop him from doing something he's not supposed to. it's adorable. There are quite a few toe tapping videos on youtube. That should clear things up if you're worried about it.
4- both my wife and I do this with uglow but it took a long time to get to this stage and it's usually accompanied with baby talk. We know he likes it because he comes in for more. and he now says stuff like I GOTCH YOU and YOU FOUND ME! It usually starts with him flying to us to get this sort of play started. and it's always an hour or so before bed. He freezes when he hears the neighbors outside.

 

[Soyajam]

Thanks for all your advice guys! Definitely put my mind at ease a bit.

I've definitely seen Remi freeze, usually at things she doesn't like outside (she hates crows, and airplanes - which are really just giant crows).

Her sitting still when being squished looks decidedly different, she'll just look at me from my partner's arms, or blink. She makes little effort to get away (apart from maybe turning to beak at our hands? I'm not sure if that's playful or a pre-bite... I'm sure we'll find out before long...)

When I give Remi smooches (the sounds of which she's recently added to her repertoire) - she doesn't back away either. She just sits and lets me do it. I presume she doesn't mind if she repeats it back to me.

Having her flighted helps a lot, I think - she can then make very clear when she doesn't want in on something. E.G Showers are a very clear no - when we move her into the water she just flies somewhere nearby.

I'll see if I can get a video of the stomping one day - it'll be tricky as she loves to chew on my phone. I'll have to be sneaky!