Breaking bad

Calling this one breaking bad because of the video, it's not all bad news.

First here is a picture of my two Green cheek amazons. Merlin on left and Luna on right.
6-27-19-2 -copy by wes mcfaden, on Flickr

Both birds spend a lot of time grooming each other when out of the cage. I would have to say it's a 70/30 split. Luna grooms Merlin 70% of the time and Merlin grooms Luna 30% of the time.

As I recall with my Pacho/Plumas pair it was also 70/30 with the female doing the 70% side. Not sure if it is relevant for determining gender.

other that the arguments they always end up getting into the other behavior I am wondering about is why they stretch there wings (up) so much. You can see some of this on the video also. IS it for intimidation?
Showing off?
[ame="https://youtu.be/Duwne8WIMOI"]breaking bad - YouTube[/ame]


When they do start arguing I usually put them back in there cages. I have my doubts that this is the right thing to do. Part of me says to let them work it out, the other half says keep them safe and don't let them hurt each other.
I have seen video of what is suppose to be bonded pair of macaws doing much the same behavior in the wild.
If my birds get serious Luna an always fly away and sometimes she does. Merlin is still learning how to fly and has the ability to do so but needs to learn how to get where he wants to go and "stick" the landing.

Not seeing anything in this video that screams miss-behaving. It appears to have started with a miss-step that resulted in one being off-balance and using its wings to maintain balance. The other perceiving it as a display and returning a dominance display... Both birds displayed and moved-on with life. Some first class lunging would have implied a step-up over displaying.
The sad /dangerous part is that this can spin-up very quickly! And, you are left too choose whether to place body parts between two Amazons.

My moms female DYH and male GCA were a bonded pair. The GCA was bald on the head except a red patch on the very top, like a buzzard, so he mostly preened THE DYH but she did preen his red patch. They loved each other, fed each other (gross!) and occasionally argued. Lots of open beak, flared tail, slightly open wings, flashing eyes posturing and intimidation but never once in 40 years did one ever bite the other. Nip at each other? Sometimes, but they didn’t hurt each other. Parrots know the strength of their own beaks and if they WANT to hurt each other (like the cockatoo and the DYH do) they can’t even be out of the cage together much less get along most of the time. Birds who want to injure each other go after each other viciously.

Next time they argue, maybe supervise the argument and see how it plays out. Most likely they’ll just complain loudly and intimidate each other until one stands down. It’s pretty typical zon behavior.

I agree with Sailboat's assessment. They look like they worked it out just fine. I'd say just close supervision. As long as they can fly away from each other if necessary, and you're watching them, the chance of catastrophe is pretty low.

Maybe it’s a bit like cat’s.
Someone not familiar with cats see two cats playing/roughhousing and think they are fighting. When two cats are playing there claws are retracted and the blows they throw are slow and light.
When they fight for real the action is so fast it’s a blur and the fur comes out in chunks.

I know Bingo would not hesitate to do serious damage.

I guess I am just being overly cautious.
Thanks.

I do hear all the need for caution and observation and carefulness and all that, but... just... ya know... WOW! The beauty and excitement of Amazons just wilding out is always so amazing.
Reminds me a bit of...
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPShAmfCafw"]"L'Apache" (French Apache Dance) by Michael and Evita - YouTube[/ame]

Explains the loss of money, black & blue marks, and general aches & pain waking-up from a night on the town. Also, why such taking of money never occurs with Amazons. After all, they rely on simply costing one the money!!!
Having it taken like costs much less.

GaleriaGila said:

I do hear all the need for caution and observation and carefulness and all that, but... just... ya know... WOW! The beauty and excitement of Amazons just wilding out is always so amazing.
Reminds me a bit of...

Click to expand...

Yep, just add feathers!
Thank you! My JoJo loved watching this!