What does the crest mean for cockateil

houndoomwolf

New member
Mar 17, 2015
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So yea I was wondering if the crust can mean anything like behiavour or mood and what it mean when it up or down
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
It means the same thing to a cockatiel as it does to a cockatoo.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
It has to be taken in context as to the bird's overall behavior. It doesn't mean anything as an isolated event other than he raised or lowered it. - IN CONJUNCTION WITH XYZ stimulus and behaviors, is where you deduce what the bird is doing...

It could be excited. It could be curious. It could be getting antsy about something... It could mean he wants a head scratch... It could mean he heard a noise he couldn't identify... etc.

He heard the bell ringing on a new toy, and his crest went up. (Curious/ excitement/play)

He lowered his head and raised his crest... (ummm... headscratch?)

He raised his crest and then charged a finger that was stuck in his cage and bit the crap out of it. (defensive)
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
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Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
When their crest is straight up it means their alert. Half way it's curious or just being naughty. All the way down they're calm and content.
 

Anansi

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Staff member
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Dec 18, 2013
22,301
4,211
Somerset,NJ
Parrots
Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
When their crest is straight up it means their alert. Half way it's curious or just being naughty. All the way down they're calm and content.

Yup. Definitely my experience as well. Very handy indicator of their mood.
 

Puck

New member
Mar 8, 2015
802
4
Who needs a mood ring when you have a crest? I am so jealous of Toos. I wish I had a fancy crest like that!
 

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