(You can also spray your cockatiel with water – this article will show you how to do that properly and why it is so important!) If your questions cannot be found here, please visit or main cockatiel section or stop by our parrot forum and post your questions. Woah. Then one day with no warning, your bird strikes out and bites. ... Why does my cockatiel tuck his head under my chin ( kind of like cuddling ) but yet won't let me pet him ? By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. All I have to do is close my lips firmly and tell her NO, and she stops the behavior. Cockatiels, which have strong, sharp beaks, can bite for a wide range of reasons, including fear, affection and even just trying to get your attention. Fortunately, it is relatively simple to train a cockatiel to keep his beak to himself. First, birds routinely use their beaks as a third hand to test the strength of perches to generally check out the physical rigidity of all climbing structures, including its owner's hand before they step up. Parrots, as hookbills, use their beaks for a variety of functions: preening, eating, climbing, and playing. Listed below are common behavior problems reported in pet cockatiels. Biting from Fear Fear is a major factor in why many cockatiels bite. ... and can pack a mean bite. Biting or nibbling Cockatiel Talk. Tail-wagging and spreading … If he's in a calm mood, I'll scratch him on his head and around his neck and I can tell when he likes it because he'll puff out his feathers on his head and turn his head like a cat. Both of my little shitheads will "nibble" on my thumb while I scritch their heads with my fingers, but only one does this kind of "you're not scritching me in exactly the way I want to be scritched, peasant!" If you pay attention, you'll be able to learn when your bird is mad at you or when he's happy. Most owners express shock and disappointment when their beloved pet shows such unexpected aggressive behavior. After a couple weeks he figured it out. Make a sharp bend in your elbow when your cockatiel is on your hand so you do not allow him a pathway to your shoulder. Biting or nibbling Cockatiel Talk. Why does my cockatiel scream? A good relationship with a cockatiel can quickly turn sour if a loving owner frightens a bird by making one or more very common mistakes that can cause biting. How to Understand Cockatiel Gestures. Why is my cockatiel sitting at the bottom of the cage? But then he began plucking at my eye lashes. That’s natural behavior, because a cockatiel wants to be on the highest point around, and because he is in the habit of being there. If you want a pet that will never bite you, don't get a bird. Whether your bird occasionally nips your finger or flat-out chomps you like he’s auditioning for a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, his bites may not always be what they seem, according to Laurie Hess, DVM, DABVP, owner of Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills, New York.