(But make sure that you're not triggering the bite behavior by flinching with your hand as he's trying to beak you.)
What do you mean by this? I ask because I am trying to learn Gollums body language and distinguishing between whether he is going to beak or bite me is still unknown. Now other than the ear bite the first night I had him (which he has not been allowed back on my shoulder since) and the next day he bit my pinky when I was walking with him... he hasnt given me a really hard bite again (knock on wood). I have caught myself flinching a couple times since. Once I realize I am doing it I stop but sometimes it is just a reaction because of the previous two bites.
Hi, Newbsi.
Basically, a bird beaks you (using his /her beak to gently grip you) either for balance or simply for exploratory purposes. So, if you suddenly flinch, you can either startle your bird or throw him/her off balance... which often results in a bite of annoyance or a painfully tight grip to regain lost balance. Either way, you've triggered the bite. The ease with which you can determine whether a bird is about to beak you or bite you varies with the individual bird. Some birds have easy tells in their body language. Others, like my Maya, not so much.
For most birds, there will be a sign beforehand. Pinning of the eyes, (a sign of excitement) fanning of the tail, a certain movement of the wings... you basically learn through observation and experience. Soon enough, you'll see it coming and learn to take your hand out of harm's way.
Some other birds have a bit of a ninja thing going on, where their body language doesn't seem to give much of anything away. One of my ekkies, Maya, is just such an example. She is never anything less than completely gentle with me, beaking my hand with a tenderness that never ceases to amaze me.
But not so with my wife. I've seen it happen, and I tell you there is no difference that I can discern between how she approaches me before a tender beaking, and how she approaches Aida before a blood-drawing strike! Her eyes pin, yes, but they pin every bit as much when she's with me. Two different kinds of excitement, but excitement still.
So what to do in this case? We just pay more attention to which circumstances will trigger the bite. If I'm around, for instance, she's far more likely to bite her. There are also certain things that she has less tolerance for with Aida. So Aida respects that and, within the bounds of what's practical, tries to avoid those actions. They basically forge their own relationship with a set of rules different from those established between me and Maya.
As for the bites that occur when I'm around, well, that's still a work in progress. Their relationship is better than it was, but they still have a ways to go.
As for your flinching, that's just something you have to try and control. Remember, body language is a far bigger thing for birds than it is for us.
Does that help? If I haven't quite answered your question, let me know.
