Play fighting?

[wrench13]

So the topic is Play Fighting. Lets define this first. The attacking and fighting with some object or thing with apparent violence, far different then the normal chewing or destruction of a toy or object. Often accompanied by sounds -grunts, growls, squawks, indicating heightened emotional levels. But not usually the actual destruction of the object. Some parrots roll around with the object, seeking its weak spot (?) or even do this lying on their backs. And once the 'fight' is over, the object reverts back to its more pedestrian nature, ignored until next time. Its not like the instantaneous dislike of something, triggered by say a color or shape, that only ceases with the removal of said object. Like a parrot that hates red bottlecaps or eyeglasses, and will actively bite and attack it and throw it away from itself. The phrase Play is heavily involved in play fighting. Some species seem to engage in this more then others, Amazons and caiques are two I know of firsthand; perhaps members with other species will chime in with their experiences. And with parrots' individualistic nature, some individuals will and some will not.

Unanswered questions I have:

Is play fighting related to hormonal input? In the wild, a part of some kind of dominance display? A part of establishing the pecking order within a flock?

Is play fighting just parrot version of play? Higher intelligence animals often show this type of play. In example lets take feline kittens and cubs. Lion cubs will often play like this and it looks pretty violent at times. But its supposed that this it merely engaging in activities that turn out to be useful behavior once the cubs start to actively hunt. Parrots don't hunt. Primates also play in a similar fashion, but that is related to establishing the dominance within the group. But they don't just randomly play fight with just any individual and don't do this with an object. Chimps will fling a tire about, but you don't see them trying to tear the living guts out of it.

Is it hormonally driven? My Amazon Salty seems to be engaging in this markedly more the last few weeks, in the middle of his traditional wintertime mating season. Mating seasons can be so varied from year to year, in duration, intensity and even the time of year. His is pretty stabilized to Dec-Jan but 3 yrs ago mating season was a real killer - long, intense and with big behavior changes. This year, its been mild, except for being more vocal and this proclivity for play fighting. Note, Salty likes to play fight with my hand. It sounds like he is going to tear me to shreds, but he is actually very gentle with that razor sharp beak, which is pretty amazing. He can deliver quite the bite when so inclined.

So - what is everyone's experience with this behavior in their parrots? I think its an area that would benefit from some serious study!

 

[kme3388]

This looks like my parrot is angry. As soon as I open his cage door he comes right out, and is happy as a clam. My parrots exhibit the behaviors you are talking about, but I have no idea why it is.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Dogs play fight, don't they? Why not birds? I don't have dogs but a few of my budgies will play tug of war. I like to grab their tails and pull them across the table.

 

[Inger]

Bumble does this with what I consider to be her favorite toy - with a twist. In true Parrotlet fashion, she likes to sleep in a weird position (see first video). She sleeps there almost every night, in that position like she's trying to practice her iron cross for the next Olympics. But in the morning! Well she gets big mad and really gives this toy what-for (second video). This is example is a mild version-sometimes she really goes at it and gets loud. I have also, on occasion, seen her regurgitate for this same toy

Relaxing

I hate you

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

Ollie McBudgie will go bananas on a toy, his cage, or my hand (whatever is closest) with repeated fast/excited full headed attack beak spears. Five to ten+ quick jabs at a time. All I can figure is that he is so excited that he doesn't know what to do with an excess of energy and so has need of occasional explosions for release of said energy. He does it while playing and seems to be happy. I have no idea if this is influenced by hormones, but he always appears to be enjoying the experience. I swear that bird smiles like he's accomplished cold nuclear fusion. My hand does not share his enthusiasm.

 

[Jcas]

When I first got JJ, my mom bought me a book on Quaker parrots which proved very helpful. According to the book, play is a self-rewarding behavior; the bird keeps doing it because it releases energy and it’s fun! It also postulates that a bird learns different types of play from its flock mates ( in the case of a single bird, that’s us!) as a way of bonding and enjoying time together and simply in mimic. I see this in JJ as I will do something like rattle one of his toys and then when I stop he grabs it and rattles it too.

Of course most of us have seen our birds engage in more, ah, amorous play with their toys so I’m sure hormones can play a role as well. Another thing my book mentioned was to let the bird have an “ enemy” toy on which they could take out any aggression or frustration. My instinct from training dogs and other companion animals is to discourage or redirect aggressive behavior, but it seems birds are a little different that way. If JJ is really cranky, sometimes the best thing I can do is let him angry play with a ball of paper. After biting, screaming, tearing, shaking and throwing his “ enemy” for a little bit, he really does usually calm down.

But I really do think birds are one of the animals who do things not just for survival or because it’s useful but just because they enjoy it! For example: we have a large flock of wild pigeons on our farm and they love to take turns riding on the cupola on my chicken coop on a breezy day. It’s like some sort of carnival ride for pigeons! They “ spot “ with their head as they spin around so they never get dizzy. On days when there’s no breeze, they will actually walk around and around on the cupola in order to get it spinning! As far as I can tell, there is no conceivable reason for them to engage in this behavior except that they find it fun!

 

[texsize]

Bingo is the bird I know best.
He does play fight with toys.
This usually involves hanging from said toy, screaming and biting. He commonly bites his own legs in the process . There is no hormonal involvement.

When Bingo plays with me.
He rolls onto his back and I pump his feet, tickle his tummy and wrestle with his beak.
These sessions don’t last long, 30 seconds to a minute with gradually increasing bite pressure till we have to call timeout.
These sessions frequently lead to hormonal behavior. He wants to mate with my hand.

Merlin does play but…. IDK.
He doesn’t really play-fight. I think maybe he wants to play fight with Luna but Luna isn’t having it.

Bella is the strangest. She doesn’t play fight.
I can sometimes get her to play tug of war with my bathroom towel.
But she only plays with her toys in the evening.
She bites them and pokes at them and talks to them.
Only in the evening when she’s been put in her cage for the rest of the day.