Coughing or just vocalizing?

We're going to the vet Friday and I took this video last night of Romeo. He occasionally does this "cough" thing. I can't tell if it's a real cough or just him mimicking one. Or mimicking something else.

So I figured I'd see what you all thought. Right about the 5 second mark he does a pretty good example of it.


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAlA1uIJ8zQ&feature=youtu.be"]VID_20161129_164713.mp4 - YouTube[/ame]

Not sure, hard to tell from just a video but it doesnt seem like hes having any trouble breathing so it may just be him doing that purposely. I read somewhere that someone who worked in a bird shop, there was a new bird brought in and it would do a bad human cough perfectly, and none of them knew who it was and thought someone was sick and were getting worried, then realized it was the bird. Have the vet check it out to be sure, that is your best bet.

"We're going to the vet Friday and I took this video last night of Romeo. He occasionally does this "cough" thing. I can't tell if it's a real cough or just him mimicking one. Or mimicking something else.

So I figured I'd see what you all thought. Right about the 5 second mark he does a pretty good example of it."


I'm leaning toward a Vocalization. Take the video with you, because, if he is anything like my DYH Amazon, he will not provide the AV a chance to hear it (i.e. the Vocalization).

If your MAC will allow you to place your ear to his chest, you will be able to hear his heart rate, and also, but 'as a very faint background sound' his breathing. I find it to be an excellent tool for a quick status update or if my guy seems a little off. If there is a problem you will hear anything from a distant click to a very clear click, before a vocal click will be heard.

As with anything, always safe to have the AV double check! If you every hear a vocal click with his breathing, Go Directly To Your AV!!!

Thanks all. I kinda think it's vocalization myself since it's not constant. It'll come in bursts of 3 when I first greet him but then it stops.

But yes, I took the video for the AV to look at. Given his history I see no reason to take chances.

My B&G Sugar does cough vocalization as well and it looks exactly like that. When you look at the beak, he is using the beak to make the sound.

Not that I know, what a cough would look like, but I would imagine like a sneeze, where they don't really move their beak, but move their diaphragm a lot.

As the video zooms in, I can't see the entire chest area, but the part I can see, doesn't move a lot.

If I were to bet money on it, I would go with vocalization

Ohh forgot to say; What a lovely beautiful bird you have

Vet follow-up, for sure, but...
I vote (and hope) it's vocalizing. The Rb does my ol' man's coughs and sneezes, sounding like a smaller bird's version of Romeo.
Good luck!