Indian Ringneck - Head Flicking/Twitching

Sunny is my first bird and she has displayed this behaviour for over three years, the entire time I've had her since she was weaned. I used to think it was normal, but the more I interact with other birds, the more I find out that it isn't?

She tends to do it more when she's not occupied, such as just perching somewhere or waiting for me to let her out. Her wings do it too! A little twitch or flick of them, as if she's constantly adjusting them just a bit.

I've tried to get a video of this, but she tends to be more interested in flirting or showing off when I record her PFFT.

But yeah, I can't find ANY information about it online, which... I mean- maybe that's a good thing since it doesn't seem to be a symptom of anything serious?

You can see her head flicking every now and then in this video:
[ame="https://youtu.be/Naj7xmWdpXI"]Indian Ringneck Head Flicking - YouTube[/ame]

Any thoughts?

Flicking the head like that is a fairly common trait among cockatiels but I don’t know if it’s the same with ringnecks. Hopefully one of the resident ringneck experts will be along shortly with better info. Meanwhile that’s one super cute video!

I work at an avian store and my co-worker has an IRN that has seizures and exhibits very similar behaviors as yours is... lots of twitching and frequently gazing upwards. I really hope it's not that but I wouldn't rule it out completely. How old is your baby?

I too highly suggest that you find either a Certified Avian Vet or Avian Specialist Vet (no Exotics Vets for this one), which we can help you find using the search tool link that is posted all over the forum, and get a full Wellness-Exam done that includes full routine blood-work. What your bird is doing is not a typical "flicking" behavior that birds occasionally do, this appears to be tremors, which is typically either due to a neurological issue, or more commonly in captive/pet birds due to some type of malnutrition or nutritional deficiency, especially since it's been 3 years of doing it...It's time to get it checked out and have full blood-work done, because if it is being caused by a medical/nutritional issue, it could very well also be doing damage to her elsewhere in her body that you aren't yet aware of, but that may eventually catch-up with you and could cause her terrible medical issues, or even pre-mature death...Tremors/Seizures aren't anything to mess around with, yes a lot of birds/parrots do flick/twitch their heads once in a while, but not like this, and not for 3 years...

Thank you everyone, for your responses!

When Monday comes along, I'm going to call up Origin Vets in order to book an appointment; luckily they regularly work in a vet clinic in my town so Sunny won't have to travel too far!

What's lucky again is that one of the vets available seems to have quite an impressive amount of experience when it comes to avian vet care.

I can't really comment on the twitching, I would advise a check-up at the vet just to make sure. Better to have the devil you know if it does turn out to be something untoward going on with her. Good to see you've got a good vet near you

On a different she's such a cutie! Clearly loves being around you

Vet appointment has been booked!

He was very nice and said he'd squeeze me in tomorrow at the end of his normal working hours before he heads to a zoo... If he hadn't have done that, I'd have to wake two weeks before an appointment was available.

I realised I forgot to post information about the vet, because I can't believe my luck that he works in my town!

The vet appointment was today and it went very well!!

Apparently I'm an excellent owner and he was impressed with Sunny's condition. Feathers, beak, mouth, skin, feet... All were wonderful.

... She's apparently a little fat, though. WHOOPS. Too many treats!

Anyway- he believes her flicking and twitching is behaviour related. Like a tic. She's done it for years and has no symptoms of anything else. Her health is perfect (apart from being a little chubby), so he feels as if there's no reason to worry unless something changes negatively.

He did give me some vitamin supplements to see if it's related to that and suggested a UV lamp to improve her quality of life, though. I'll be getting right on that!

Sunny was well behaved, too. She had a minor freak out and lightly bonked into the window, but was coaxed right back onto my hand where she let me put her on her back for the vet to examine her. She was a little nervous about the whole scenario, but she behaved which surprised me, because... She's so naughty at home. Hahah.

But yeah! All good news, here.

I would pass the UV lamp. Just because of the head tilt behavior I'm seeing. Does she do that frequently / whenever resting? just staring up? because staring up at a light could really hurt the eyes.

Owlet said:

I would pass the UV lamp. Just because of the head tilt behavior I'm seeing. Does she do that frequently / whenever resting? just staring up? because staring up at a light could really hurt the eyes.

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Oh, no, that's female Indian Ringneck behaviour! When her head tilts backwards with the clucking, it's affectionate and/or flirting. She only does it when I directly interact with her.