Why Do Parakeets Flap Their Wings?

Owning a parakeet, also called a budgie, offers an opportunity to observe bird behavior as it would be seen in nature. Every action has a purpose in the animal kingdom and whether it is singing, beak clicking, yawning or wing flapping, the parakeet is only doing what nature requires of a healthy and happy creature.

  1. The Morning Routine

    • When you first uncover your parakeet in the morning, one of the first things he will do is stretch. Parakeets often sit on their perches quietly all night and, like we humans, are stiff upon rising. And so they will stretch, first one leg and wing then the other leg and wing. This is usually followed by a little exercise. Birds get their exercise in nature by flying and a caged bird is no different. Though they cannot fly in a cage, they can flap their wings vigorously. They may actually be able to fly from one perch to the other if their cage is roomy enough.

    Other Normal Behaviors

    • A happy bird, usually the male, will sing when he is content. Some parakeets can be taught to speak but the words are usually so quiet that you may not hear what they have to say. Birds will also grind their beaks. This is a sign of enjoyment and you will most often hear this when the birds is napping. Parakeets do nap and usually yawn before settling down. Not all bird species yawn but parakeets do.

    Preening Behavior

    • Preening seems to be a favorite pastime for parakeets. They will poof up their feathers usually just to straighten them out after a good preening. As a final step to their regimen, they may wag their tail real fast. If they have a bird companion, they will often be seen preening the other bird. Parakeets are social creatures and can easily get bored alone. Having a cage mate is beneficial for the parakeets and to the owner.

    Boy or Girl?

    • The portion above the birds beak is called the cere. Males have a bluish cere while females have a brownish cere. Males are generally more talkative while females chew objects more, probably having to do with their instinct to prepare a nest. It's not always easy to tell the difference in a male and female when they are very young.