beak grinding???

SunMommy

New member
Nov 6, 2011
196
0
Michigan
Parrots
Pyro, my new baby sun conure
I like to place a towel over my shoulders when I hold Pyro. This way it catches any droppings he leaves and my clothes stay clean. Sometimes he likes to crawl under the towel and snuggle up to my neck. Today when he was under there it sounded like he was grinding his beak. He did this the entire time he was under there. I think I read somewhere that beak grinding is common in conures, but what does it mean? Is it considered a bad habit?
 

lexx510

New member
Mar 13, 2011
812
1
Bay Area, CA
Parrots
Pineapple Green Cheek Conure
You have a happy birdy on you hands. It is a sign that he or she is very relaxed and content...and perhaps ready for a nap/sleep.
 
OP
S

SunMommy

New member
Nov 6, 2011
196
0
Michigan
Parrots
Pyro, my new baby sun conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
You have a happy birdy on you hands. It is a sign that he or she is very relaxed and content...and perhaps ready for a nap/sleep.

Well that makes me feel much much better. I was worried he was stressed out or something. Thanks!
 
OP
S

SunMommy

New member
Nov 6, 2011
196
0
Michigan
Parrots
Pyro, my new baby sun conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
So then not that long after posting this Pyro did another new thing. It was about sun down here and he flew out of his cage and landed on my chest. He puffed up his feathers and stretched out his wings and flapped them vigorously all while taking a few steps backwards then forwards. He was squawking very loudly too. He was also rubbing his beak back and forth on my shirt in between the wing flapping sessions almost like he was trying to wipe something off. I would have him step up on my finger then he would just fly back to my chest/shoulder area and repeat the behavior. My husband took him from me and he flew back to me again and repeated the behavior. This went on for about 5 minutes. It was not bothersome. It was kind of funny. I'm just wondering if anyone knows what this is about?
 

Mamanda

New member
Oct 17, 2011
416
Media
2
0
Central Oregon (Paradise!)
Parrots
Keen: female, YSGCC & Opi: male, Pied Cockatiel & Milo: male, Timneh African Grey
So then not that long after posting this Pyro did another new thing. It was about sun down here and he flew out of his cage and landed on my chest. He puffed up his feathers and stretched out his wings and flapped them vigorously all while taking a few steps backwards then forwards. He was squawking very loudly too. He was also rubbing his beak back and forth on my shirt in between the wing flapping sessions almost like he was trying to wipe something off. I would have him step up on my finger then he would just fly back to my chest/shoulder area and repeat the behavior. My husband took him from me and he flew back to me again and repeated the behavior. This went on for about 5 minutes. It was not bothersome. It was kind of funny. I'm just wondering if anyone knows what this is about?
Interesting! (I have no clue ... but interesting! Sounds funny & cute) :D
 

Remy

New member
Jul 13, 2011
1,905
1
California
Parrots
Darcy (Golden-Collared Macaw), Puck (Caique - RIP)
Puck sometimes grinds his beak around bedtime. It's weird at first but you get used to it.

When they rub their faces back and forth it's called "surfing". I don't know why. Puck does it when he's happy and/or excited.
 

YNAMomma

New member
Sep 18, 2011
213
0
Minnesota, USA
Parrots
Ianto-10yr old M. YN-Amazon,
Toshiko - 10yr old F. YN-Amazon (Mated pair)
Usually when my ammies puff up and rub thier faces on things its thier way of claiming whatever they are rubbing on. Maybe your baby was saying you are his. Which would explain why he flew back to u when your husband took him.
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Are you talking about when his head goes forward and back motion? While fluttering his wings? IF that's what your talking about, that's what babies do when they beg to be fed....
 

lene1949

New member
Sep 26, 2011
1,701
1
Brisbane, Australia
Parrots
Cory: Short billed Corella -
Echo: Galah -
Max: Alexandrine -
Skye: Yellow Sided conure -
Luka: Green Cheek Conure -
RIP Shrek: Quaker
Beak grinding equals happy bird...

Regarding the towel... I always use a towel to dry Max after a shower.... It's good to get them used to these things.
 
OP
S

SunMommy

New member
Nov 6, 2011
196
0
Michigan
Parrots
Pyro, my new baby sun conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
Are you talking about when his head goes forward and back motion? While fluttering his wings? IF that's what your talking about, that's what babies do when they beg to be fed....

He wasn't bobbing his head up and down like when he gets hungry. It was very different. This was a side to side motion he was making on my chest with his beak. It really looked like he was wiping something off but his beak didn't have anything on it.
 
OP
S

SunMommy

New member
Nov 6, 2011
196
0
Michigan
Parrots
Pyro, my new baby sun conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #14
Puck sometimes grinds his beak around bedtime. It's weird at first but you get used to it.

When they rub their faces back and forth it's called "surfing". I don't know why. Puck does it when he's happy and/or excited.


It looks like I have a happy and excited bird. This makes me happy and excited. :)
 

andrea.faerie

New member
May 16, 2011
751
1
North Carolina
Parrots
My lovely little Black Cap Conure, Lucy (in the sky with diamonds) <3
Both Lu and Bleu rub their beaks like they've got something on them :) I've come to believe it's their version of "claiming" whatever it is they're on, or scratching an itch sometimes, or just plain being silly :)
 

Most Reactions

Top