Sun Conure Makes Drinking Motion

[ddwcmp555]

Hello again,

Just curious if its just a unique-to-my-bird tick or something but he makes the drinking water motion when not drinking water. Usually when he is excited or if he is nibbling on our fingers. Is this maybe regurgitation? There is no other signs of him being sick or anything.

Thanks

 

[Scott]

My first reaction is periodic crop-adjusting motion? Are you able to upload a video of this behavior? Easiest method is via YouTube link or Vimeo. Unfortunately it is not possible to post directly from source.

 

[Laurasea]

This covers normal and problem behavior.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/7

Its a good idea to have a digital kitchen scale, and set to grams abd weigh you bird weekly. Its a huge help in picking up a sick bird before any other signs. As a sick bird burns twice as many calories.
Because burds vary in size, abd burds 100 grams or less that loose a few grams is a big deal, while larger burds its just normal variation. So % of body weight loss is ehats important.
Take grams lost from normal weight ÷ by normal weight x 100 = % lost
Greater than 3% lost make a vet appointment.
Example
74 gram conure looses 9 grams, at 65g
9÷74×100= 12.1% weight loss ( a very sick bird)

 

[Saash]

A contented bird will do the tongue motion and beak grinding, its kind of the same action they do when preening.