Henry, the red-crowned amazon we adopted a few weeks ago from the rescue, likes both of us but seems really fond of my partner. This past week, she started vocalizing as soon as he enters the room, complete with eye-pinning and tail-fanning. When he pets her, she crouches, spreads her wings, and leans her head out--like a baby bird begging for food. Henry is 11 or 12, and our Barron's guide to amazons says this behavior in sexually mature females means they want to mate. Is Henry trying to mate with my partner? The book says to discourage this behavior because it will lead to sexual frustration and aggression. What's your opinion?

Henry acts very differently around me... she doesn't eye-pin when I enter the room, and when I pet her she puts her head down and gets fluffed up.

Yup, Henry's trying to steal your partner. Just kidding! But yes, Henry IS definitely in breeding mode, and it should be discouraged. The minute she starts crouching down, butt up in the air, put her right back in the cage or distract her by making her do flap flaps, giving her a toy, or something else to do and think about. If she persists, THEN put her in her cage, or YOU can take over giving her attention since she doesn't do it with/to you.

Hah! Good to know. So he should NOT pet her when she does that!

Guess this confirms that Henry is indeed female!

Is the eye-pinning & tail-fanning for him mating behavior too, or is that just normal excitement? She also kisses him and makes soft cooing while grooming him... and she doesn't "coo" while "grooming" me.

She also poops on my partner and doesn't poop on me! We've made a few jokes about her marking her territory... but is this more likely a coincidence? He also forgets to give her potty breaks when he has her out.

IMO With Hen Zons. And i live with a bunch. (my forum name), Hens don't have the aggressive issues that males are famous for. Yes they get very hormonal and want sex,sex,sex, but my hens will beg sex from more than just their favorite person. Biting has not been an issue with the hens. Being single minded pain in the backside , yes. But it is what it is and it does pass. They just act so miserable, poor baby.

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Long time amazon parent/breeder and many rescue zons. We are breeding 2nd generation of our Yellow Nape ,Double Yellow Head, Panama ,Orange Wing Amazons and TAGs, also outdoor aviary with flock of Cockatiels. If you need help or advice please feel free to contact me,if i can't help maybe i can find someone who can.Capt and "Jake" the YN
Avatar is myself and "Juanita" 12/59 Guatemala CA
Rescues looking homes,Mumbles(DYH male)Echo (YNA male) Rockie(BFA male) Nitro (YNA male) Yeah, Echo found a home

Here's some articles that might be informative in regards to petting and the 'oversexed' psittacine.

Site Name - Articles - Behavioral - Sex And The Psittacine
RP - Mating
Hormonal Parrot
The Laughing Parrot - Tips for dealing with hormonal birds

A change of how you pet, the foods you feed and even how you feed (dry food vs soft food, warm food vs cold food), lighting, and even cage placement/arrangement can all help discourage mating behaviors. It is not healthy for parrots to be sexually stimulated by humans because it can lead to enlarged sexual organs, unhealthy relationships (there is no way that a human can physically please a birds natural desire to mate - at least, not without making things worse!) and possibly hernias (most common in cockatoos).

I think 'tis the season. My 7 year old pet female solicits me every time I walk into the kitchen lately. This is a change in behavior within the last few weeks. If I let her up on my shoulder, instead of wanting scratches like normal, she squats and quivers. I generally try to distract them with something else when they act like this but I don't worry about it too much. Mine may end up getting less shoulder time if this continues very long just to let her cool off.

Mishka is definitely wanting a mate, his is getting very territorial in his cage.
He is not sharing his toys with me (sigh) can't touch any of them.
I have never seen Mishka tear newspaper the way his is now, chewingn plastic tops, till there is nothing left to chew.
When showering him, I am now unable to touch his body, he lunges at me, have to pick him up with a stick now.
I am not stroking or petting him, I do not want to encourage or confuse him.
I know this time will pass...... can someone please tell me WHEN

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Goodness, Ant, I had no idea Mishka has it going on, too. I wish I could tell you when he'll get "over it", but I hope VERY soon. How long has it been going on for? I DO know that Greys breed year round, so hopefully he'll get over his "desire for you" soon, and reverts to his sweet self.

My Hunter's mind has been on it lately as well, and it's not breeding season here yet. I am careful how I touch her, and I can't wear zipped hoodies because she climbs right into them, making them a nest.

It has been going on for over a week now, but I have learnt to "handle" him..... so to speak
I can handle him chewing things, but miss the little bit of cuddles we used to share. When he become extremely aggresive, talking calms him down immediately THANK GOODNESS


I have been reading on-line a lot and this shocked me..........
African grey parrot's breeding cycle rotates through the year


The great news... the year is nearly over haha

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Sounds to me that your Henry is now Henrietta The eye pinning and the tail fanning is normal mating behavior. I would have your partner not touch Henry knowing that it will just stimulate her even more. Try not to have your partner pet or give scrtiches to her. Eventually, the hormones will calm down.