Senegal body language and noises questions.

SenegalLove

New member
Jun 18, 2012
23
0
Middle TN
Parrots
Senegal
Cockatiels
I have started to bond with Lexi and I really enjoy my time with her. She is so sweet and adorable!

Could anyone help me with her body language and what her noises mean?

She does what I think is just a call for me when I have the tiels out and she is waiting for her turn. It is not unpleasant.

She does the high pitched squeal when she is scared. I figures this out quickly because she did this the first week when I got near her :rolleyes:

But when I rub her she makes a noise that is almost like a duck quack. At first I thought that meant stop but now I am thinking it means she likes it?

Also, her pupils dilate quite a bit. What does this mean? I thought it was a bad thing but she also does it when I am petting her.

One more thing. She likes to nibble my fingers and nose, lips, etc. Is this okay or will it lead to biting later? She is very gentle now.

Thanks in advance.
 

Mudkips

Member
May 6, 2012
317
Media
3
1
Melbourne, Australia
Parrots
Birdy the Green Cheek Conure
One more thing. She likes to nibble my fingers and nose, lips, etc. Is this okay or will it lead to biting later? She is very gentle now.

It could lead to biting later if left unchecked, but if it does happen it will be by biting harder and harder as the days pass. It's something you should work on straight away if you notice it starting to get stronger.

Of course, there's a always chance that you have one of those rare babies that will never bite anyone! :D

I'm not sure if that 'quack' noise is the same, but my GCC does similar when he's super happy to be around me. It's more of a low pitched gravely "qua-" sound and its mixed in with happy beak grinding noises.
 

Mudkips

Member
May 6, 2012
317
Media
3
1
Melbourne, Australia
Parrots
Birdy the Green Cheek Conure
She does the high pitched squeal when she is scared. I figures this out quickly because she did this the first week when I got near her :rolleyes:
Oh and I forgot to mention, Birdy does this squeal when he is just plain upset at me. It happens most often when I walk past his cage at some unruly hour of the morning when Birdy just wants to get a good night's sleep - I'll hear a long and soft squeal, then look at his happy hut to see a fluffy conure head poking out and looking back at me. I'd try to apologize, but he'll squeal even louder if I talk.
He's super cute when he's pissed off! :p
 
OP
SenegalLove

SenegalLove

New member
Jun 18, 2012
23
0
Middle TN
Parrots
Senegal
Cockatiels
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Thank you for your input. I let her nibble because when she first went to me I figured she was just checking me out. I wanted her to be able to trust me. And I wanted to show her that I trust her not to bite me. And I think it is pretty darn cute, but of course it wouldn't be if it turns into something worse!

Birdy sounds cute!
 

friedsoup

New member
May 5, 2012
503
1
North Carolina
Parrots
Senegal Male Bogart
Bogart clicks his beak three times in a row when he wants a scratch or preen I noticed this when I had a female he would do it as he aproched her and she would do it back then they started to preen each other, of course he's a man and ony preens her for about 10 sec and expects her not to stop for an hour. LOL!
 
OP
SenegalLove

SenegalLove

New member
Jun 18, 2012
23
0
Middle TN
Parrots
Senegal
Cockatiels
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Bogart sounds cute! I have a male cockatiel that will get scritches from his girlfriend and he never reciprocates. Not even ten seconds :)
 

ann

New member
Feb 18, 2011
1,323
1
USA
Parrots
1 nanday conure Black Jack, 1 Brotogeris parakeet Whiff, 1 ring neck dove Eliza, and 6 society finches (3 are tame). RIP my parent pairs of societies and my little gouldian finches
it sounds like you two are off to a great start :) sometimes Oscar pins his eyes when i pet him I'm not really sure why, but sometimes he tries to nip me after pinning, usually after I hit a sore feather. good luck :)!
 
OP
SenegalLove

SenegalLove

New member
Jun 18, 2012
23
0
Middle TN
Parrots
Senegal
Cockatiels
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
That is why I was confused, I thought pining meant they are going to bite, but in this case she is content.

She is so precious. I love her to pieces :)
 

friedsoup

New member
May 5, 2012
503
1
North Carolina
Parrots
Senegal Male Bogart
Pinning means extreem interest you must put that with the body language . it will take awhile to get the hang of it.
 

Zuzu

New member
Sep 24, 2012
49
Media
1
0
Sloan,NY
Parrots
Sengal Parrot
Our Zuzu does a loud squeal too when he sees us and wants attention so that is normal. As for the beak clicking or quacking sound, means their content with you, kinda like when u rub a dogs ear and it wants to lean into you like O YEA THATS THE SPOT, Zuzu does it when cuddling under our chin and were petting his head feathers in opposite direction. As for pinning the eyes means something of extreme intrest. Now when u said does the nibbles, thats not much to be worried about unless it starts to get harder or stronger then its time to stop it, otherwise the nibbling is just grooming you, mine does it to me, he'll prune my face, ear, earlobe, my hair, or it on my hand, he's better than nail clippers he can spot the start of a dead skin or cutetical (bad hang nail) and clips it without any pain whatsoever. So it seems you don't have that much to worry bout just the basic body language.
 

CeruleanSilver

New member
Jan 3, 2013
2
0
Parrots
African Senegal Parrot
Nibbling is complicated. On one hand, it can be a moderate rebuke for not paying attention, like when you're reading a book and the bird's annoyed with you. I can tell when Tengu does this because I tell him to stop it and he just gives me the stink eye and keeps it up, with moderately uncomfortable pressure. Other times, it's super light, and he'll even pick off little bits of flaky skin or move around my face to different areas, even my eye lashes! This is an affectionate grooming, accompanied occasionally by soft chirping. Sennies have big personalities, and they can be pretty subtle, so don't lose heart if you think they're doing one thing and really its another. It's really a time thing. Someday, you may think they're grooming you and all of a sudden you've got a bleeding lip. It kind of comes with the turf.
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top