Help: Why is my Green Cheek Conure periodically making this screaming sound?

[missnebulosity]

Since this morning, my conure has been doing nothing in particular and sitting there occasionally making this frustrated screaming sound. It's the same sound he makes when I try to pet him and he doesn't want to be pet. To me it signals frustration. I just adopted him a couple weeks ago, and I'm completely new to being a parrot mom. I know the grinding sound is common, but what is this toddler tantrum "EEE EEE" sound mean?? Could he be molting and very uncomfortable/unhappy?

He stays out of the cage from 7:30am to 7:30pm, at which time I put him in the cage to go to sleep. When I put him in the cage to go to sleep, he's doing his usual grinding, but he's continuing to do the screaming sound. Is this normal?

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8UUxNTWwco"]Why is my Green Cheek Conure Making This Screaming Sound? - YouTube[/ame]

Thanks in advance,
Neb

 

[Jen5200]

I had trouble hearing the noise - sounded kind of like a quacking sound? Did I hear it right or is my iPad having audio issues again?

 

[missnebulosity]

I had trouble hearing the noise - sounded kind of like a quacking sound? Did I hear it right or is my iPad having audio issues again?

It's not like a quacking sound.. probably what you heard was the initial beak grinding sound. The screaming sound is very subtle. I dont have any editing software to bump it up... let me see if I can find a video on youtube with a similar sound being made by a human. If I can't find it, then I"ll record myself mimicking it much louder so that the microphone picks it up louder. (LOL) Be right back.

 

[missnebulosity]

I had trouble hearing the noise - sounded kind of like a quacking sound? Did I hear it right or is my iPad having audio issues again?

Okay, so obviously this is not the exact sound, but imagine a sound like this frog is making, only a little bit more high pitched and with a closed mouth. It's like an annoyed/frustrated, closed-mouth squeal.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEpMPU2jq5U"]CRAZY screaming frog...!!! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[LaManuka]

It’s more a “cheep” or a “peep” than a scream. My GCC Baci (God rest his sweet little soul) would make a similar sound at me from under his covers at night. Without knowing for sure my best guess is it’s a contact type call they make during the night to just touch base with the rest of the flock. Combined with the happy beak grinding it sounds very content to me.

 

[Jen5200]

My conures all make that kind of a noise (quieter than the frog tho lol). It’s often under the cage cover and I agree that it may just be a contact call to make sure that someone else is out there. Mine also make a similar noise when they are just sitting on my shoulder. I’m not convinced that it’s frustration noise because they don’t usually combine frustration with beak grinding which is usually a contented sound.

 

[KawaiiTori]

This sounds pretty similar to Tori’s “settling down” noises. She makes these sounds right after I cover her cage and also if she gets disturbed in any way during the night. As long as this isn’t going on all night (which would indicate severe sleep deprivation) your little one is most likely fine. Since you’ve only had him for a few weeks though, it is probably still a good idea to take him to see a Certified Avian Vet just to get a general checkup. The CAV will be able to do a thorough exam and answer any questions you might have. Congratulations and welcome to Parronthood!

 

[Flboy]

I heard the normal ‘night’ sounds, but I also heard his annoyed bleeps! If I move around JoJo too much while he is trying to sleep, he says the same thing! A TV in the background also bugs him!

 

[missnebulosity]

It’s more a “cheep” or a “peep” than a scream. My GCC Baci (God rest his sweet little soul) would make a similar sound at me from under his covers at night. Without knowing for sure my best guess is it’s a contact type call they make during the night to just touch base with the rest of the flock. Combined with the happy beak grinding it sounds very content to me.

You guys are all right that combined with the happy beak grinding that it probably doesn't mean anything bad. THe only reason why I feel like it's anger/frustration related, is because he makes the exact same sound when I try to touch him and he doesn't want to be touched... when that happens he gets really cranky and bitey with me, and makes that exact sound.

I have cats and know that purring, while seemingly a content expression, can also be a self-comforting method. Is it possible that he is angry/frustrated and trying to soothe himself with beak grinding?

 

[missnebulosity]

I heard the normal ‘night’ sounds, but I also heard his annoyed bleeps! If I move around JoJo too much while he is trying to sleep, he says the same thing! A TV in the background also bugs him!

Glad you could hear it! It sounds like a toddler having a tantrum, right?! I did a test last night around 11pm after he had gone to sleep and called the cats to bed, and my gcc seemed REALLY annoyed I was making sound, and so he gave the frustrated squeals again. I really want to get to the bottom of this!!

Do you think it's possibly simple frustration, and not an indication of serious emotional distress?

 

[clark_conure]

yeah contented and contact call...enjoy it.

not distress at all......maybe a little it's not bedtime yet, but resigned and just making sure your there.

 

[missnebulosity]

It’s more a “cheep” or a “peep” than a scream.

Could be. Interestingly enough it reminds me a bit of baby toucan sounds. Have you ever heard a baby toucan?

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ-FoWdT6uo"]The CUTEST Sounds You've Never Heard! - BABY TOUCANS! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[dhraiden]

Clark and others have the right of it: it's a sort of contented "I'm here" contact call. Nothing to worry about.

 

[18WheelsOfSteel]

It sounds to me like he is getting pissed at being woken up in the middle of the night, lots of people do something similar, SWMBO is usually a very nice and caring person, but when I wake her up in the middle of the night I risk life and death consequences, like getting hit/yelled at...if he's asleep, let him be, he'll be fine, if he makes those noises while fully awake and you are getting bit right afterwards, it would be advisable to just take that as a lead up to a bite, and give him some space

 

[JuicyNip]

You know how whenever an electronic item hiccups everyone says "have you tried unplugging it and letting it reset itself?" My theory on bird issues is similar. Light exposure and number of dark, quiet uninterrupted sleep hours each night are birds reset feature. They really need that down time. Not enough, and the result is a grumpy, unhappy bird.

I hope you figure out what's bothering him soon. Please keep us updated. Your experiences could help another parrot owner solve their bird's issues.