Signs of Affection From a Meyer's Parrot

The Meyer's Parrot is one of the smaller species of parrot. The bird is often shy and is less vocal than some other parrot species. However, with plenty of socialization and time spent with your pet, this bird becomes extremely affectionate and will entertain you with its many tricks, including hanging upside-down from its perch. Learn to read the signs that your Meyer's Parrot is showing you affection. Not all of the parrot's affectionate behavior should be encouraged, as the parrot must not see you as its mate. This arrangement can lead the Meyer's Parrot to become frustrated and aggressive when reproduction does not occur.

  1. Grooming

    • In the wild, Meyer's Parrots groom one another to show affection. This behavior is generally reserved for the parrot's mate, which it will stay with for the rest of its life. The parrot grooms its mate by gently nibbling and pruning its feathers with its beak. Your pet may show you affection by nibbling on your ears or grooming your hair with its beak.

    Chattering

    • A pair of Meyer's Parrots often chatter quietly to one another to show affection. Your pet also may chatter to you in the same way, using a variety of subtle peeps and clicking sounds. Talk to your parrot in a gentle tone of voice to show it affection in return. If your parrot squawks when you leave it alone, this means that it wants you to come back. This parrot is an extremely social animal and can become distressed if it is left alone.

    Sitting Close to You

    • A Meyer's Parrot that trusts you and enjoys your company will want to be close to you. It enjoys sitting on your shoulder and will come to meet you at the bars of its cage when you approach. Like all parrots, it requires a lot of time and attention from you to live a contented life in captivity. It also is important to encourage your parrot to become independent to prevent it from becoming completely dependent on you. This helps your pet to cope during the times when you are not around.

    Regurgitation

    • Regurgitation is a behavior that the Meyer's Parrot exhibits in front of you if it sees you as a possible mate. This is one way that the parrot shows affection, although it is an undesirable behavior that should not be encouraged. Ignore your parrot if it regurgitates in front of you, and it will soon accept that you are not its mate. This won't prevent you from bonding closely with your parrot. Your Meyer's Parrot also may regurgitate in front of a toy that it likes in an attempt to show it affection.