Whistle sound from nostril.

[Kelly556]

Whenever my cockatiel hisses at me or gets really aggressive, I notice a very thin, wind-like sound coming from his nostrils. It’s almost as if his nostrils act like a flute, creating the sound when air passes through. While I occasionally hear it during intense hissing, I’ve noticed it happens much more often after he’s been flying a lot. The sound usually stops after a few seconds.

I want to clarify that this sound isn’t coming from his lungs or chest. His nostrils look completely normal—no redness, swelling, or blockage. This has been happening for years, so it’s not something new. I’m just curious if anyone else has experienced this with their bird or knows what might be causing it.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

It's probably nothing but please make an appointment with an avian vet to make sure no foreign object (seed shell, dirt) is stuck where you can't see it.

 

[Kelly556]

It's probably nothing but please make an appointment with an avian vet to make sure no foreign object (seed shell, dirt) is stuck where you can't see it.

I wish I had a video to show what I'm talking about but it's not picking up the sound when I record it. I did find a video of that someone else's bird and this is what he sounds like.

It's very faint sounding but at 0:23 mark you can hear it.

 

[Kelly556]

I wish I had a video to show what I'm talking about but it's not picking up the sound when I record it. I did find a video of that someone else's bird and this is what he sounds like.

It's very faint sounding but at 0:23 mark you can hear it.

Ok I did find a video I record a year ago. You can hear it at the very end.
Note- I no longer buy rope perches. The one in the video was replace with a wood perch.

 

[Rozalka]

I wish I had a video to show what I'm talking about but it's not picking up the sound when I record it. I did find a video of that someone else's bird and this is what he sounds like.

It's very faint sounding but at 0:23 mark you can hear it.

It's nothing. It means "go away, it's my area" - he doesn't trust you and treats you as an intruder (unless I confused sounds)

 

[Kelly556]

It's nothing. It means "go away, it's my area" - he doesn't trust you and treats you as an intruder (unless I confused sounds)

The one with the eggs is not my bird. Just want to give an example of what I'm talking about yes i know he is hissing.

 

[Kelly556]

Here's another video of him doing it.

 

[JjEjFjF]

Ok I did find a video I record a year ago. You can hear it at the very end.
Note- I no longer buy rope perches. The one in the video was replace with a wood perch.

I heard a little bit of a high pitched screech at the end. Are you sure its coming from the nostrils?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I heard it too.

 

[Kelly556]

I heard a little bit of a high pitched screech at the end. Are you sure its coming from the nostrils?

Yes coming from his nostrils. I mean I think it's nothing since it's always been like that. Maybe I'm just overanalyzing

 

[JjEjFjF]

Yes coming from his nostrils. I mean I think it's nothing since it's always been like that. Maybe I'm just overanalyzing

I think its nothing. My cockatiel will screech at a very high pitch if i get him worked up by waving paper in his face. He actually likes it.

 

[Kelly556]

I think its nothing. My cockatiel will screech at a very high pitch if i get him worked up by waving paper in his face. He actually likes it.

Aww cute haha
Someone said it sounds like when they hiss, their forcing air out of their names. It's not always when he does this actually, most of the time it sounds like a "normal" hiss. He's weird. Rn it's super cold where I live and all he wants to do is nest. He's been super hormonal lately and bit my nose last night.

 

[Kelly556]

I think its nothing. My cockatiel will screech at a very high pitch if i get him worked up by waving paper in his face. He actually likes it.

I think you are correct. I think he is making a squeaking sound. It reminds me of the same type of squeak they make while getting scratches. He makes squeaky sounds sometimes when I scratch the sides of his mouth. It's freaking adorable when they do that