Feathers over her beak?

[strudel]

You can usually see my galah's beak, but I've noticed sometimes that she seems to have spread her face feathers up out over her lower beak. What's that about? Anything to worry about?

 

[Jayyj]

Alice does that a fair bit, I think of it as her worried face. Generally means something is happening that she doesn't much like the look of but it's not bad enough for her to be properly scared - for example I left the room for a few minutes and didn't offer to take her with me. If she's in worried mode she won't take treats or want affection, then as soon as the cheek feathers go down she'll be back to normal.

If the cheek feathers are fluffed and I can hear grinding, that's something different and usually means she's getting ready for a nap.

 

[getwozzy]

When chili does it she's usually in cuddle-mode and it's another sign of content/happiness

 

[RavensGryf]

It's a GOOD thing. It's a sign she's LEAST likely to bite then !
When parrots do that it's a sign of being content, relaxed, or cuddly. My mom's Bourke's isn't a cuddly bird, but he does it in contentment.

 

[strudel]

Thanks, I wasn't that worried by it, just interested.... She looks a bit strange when she does it, you can't see her "face", that's how I noticed it. She looked a bit "funny" and I thought "why don't you look the same?"

She's done something else new, she "squeals". She was squealing, I went to see what was going on and she was actually playing with her toy. Not sure what that's about, either. She seemed happy enough, it's just something else she wasn't doing before.

You'd think that after you've had a pet for a while you'd be familar with all their "stuff", but there's always something going on.

 

[Jayyj]

Just to say in mine it's usually not a contentment thing, and clearly stress related unless it accompanies beak grinding and settling down for a nap - don't know if it's a galah speciality (after all they do hiss as a sign of affection, back to front birds thst they are) or my bird is weirder than most!

 

[strudel]

I think with her it was napping. She was having a "timeout" on her own.

 

[Allee]

My Umbrella covers his bottom beak when he's meeting someone for the first time and willing to be friendly but a little unsure. He also does it when he's sleepy.

 

[MangieSun]

Jasper does it too. I love when he gets "fluff nose". Lol. He looks so innocent and sweet when his beak feathers are fluffed.

 

[strudel]

"Fluff nose" Yes, she does look fluffier than usual, when she has her beak "out"

 

[Kiwibird]

When chili does it she's usually in cuddle-mode and it's another sign of content/happiness

When my dads goffin does that, it usually means he's trying to ply you with the cute too' "I want scritches" face. But if he gives you the evil eye whilst his little feathers are puffed around his beak, that means he's about to chomp you instead.

 

[strudel]

That's a bit of a worry, Kiwibird.... I hope I can tell the difference.

 

[Kiwibird]

It's all about learning their subtle forms of communication through body language, which you will with time. Plus, Alfie is an 'evil' cockatoo in general! He lures people into petting him and turns around and bites them (unless they are my dad). I don't think *most* cockatoos do that, and I think the galahs especially are known for being very gentle birds in general (Alfie is a goffin, which are known for being more devious).

 

[strudel]

My little girl is Jekyll and Hyde. She's nice, and then she goes all nippy. I'm not sure what makes her start chomping. It's very annoying.

 

[getwozzy]

LOL kiwi you're so right!!!! It all depends if she's got that glint of mischief in her eye...it could go either way LOL

Strudel- they're love bites hahaha

 

[punkindave]

With the Toos it's what we refer to as "having the safety on"..
It's normally when very relaxed on off-guard. Of course for some, it's saying, "Beak, I don't have a beak, come closer!!!" Great game for some!!

 

[strudel]

"Beak, I don't have a beak, come closer!!!"

hahahaha, that's priceless.