Why Is My Cockatiel Grinding His Beak?

Cockatiels are friendly, sociable little parrots that are well suited to both beginner and experienced bird owners. While they may be small in size with an overall body length of about 1 foot, these birds make up for their size with a big and complex personalities. Cockatiels have a set of endearing and sometimes strange behaviors, which includes beak grinding. Understanding strange cockatiel behaviors can improve your relationship with your bird.

  1. Beak Grinding

    • Beak grinding is a sign of happiness, contentment, relaxation and sleepiness in cockatiels. If your cockatiel has recently been fed, had a particularly fun play session, cuddled with you or maybe just had a good day, expect beak grinding. There is no cause for concern -- this behavior is similar to that of a toddler self-soothing by sucking his thumb or simply a content human sigh. Enjoy knowing that your bird's needs have all been met and that you have a happy feathered friend.

    Head Bowing and Bobbing

    • If your cockatiel bows its head be prepared to observe further body language to decipher this behavior's meaning. A bowed head with a friendly chirp often means that you have an invitation to pet your bird's head. A bowed head with narrowed eyes and a bit of a hiss is an aggressive posture and could be a precursor to a bite. A bowed and bobbing head is often a display of aggression and dominance, while a bobbing head often means the bird is playful and curious, or hungry in young birds.

    Hanging Upside Down

    • While this behavior is often associated with bats, cockatiels do it, too. You may find your cockatiel flipped upside down, hanging onto a perch or the side of the cage. This behavior could mean your cockatiel feels happy and content. Occasionally cockatiels hang upside down for attention and praise. Hanging upside down also can be a display of property ownership -- your bird simply wants to make sure you know what belongs to it.

    Regurgitation

    • When a person vomits, it means he ate something bad or is ill. This could be the case for cockatiels, also. More often than not, however, regurgitation is simply a sign of happiness, devotion and a close bond to its human companion. Mature birds often regurgitate food for their young or for their mates, and this behavior simply means that your cockatiel has claimed you, loves you and wishes to help care for you. It is actually a compliment oddly disguised as disgusting.