by Karen Lawson

Created on: February 05, 2009   Last Updated: February 10, 2009

The first thing to understand about parrots is that no matter how tame or friendly they may appear, they are not domesticated. Bird behavior is driven by instinct, and a parrot's foremost instincts include functioning as part of a flock, and forming a lifelong bond with a mate. Your pet parrot views your family as its "flock," and its primary caregiver as its "mate."

Taming an adult parrot can be a challenge. The vast majority of parrots available in the pet trade are raised in captivity, and are handfed to bond them with humans. Handfed baby parrots are tame and friendly, but may become less so as they mature, or if their caregivers handle them infrequently. Knowing a little about parrots' natural behavior is useful for taming your bird.

Parrots enjoy having their heads and necks stroked and scratched. This mimics the grooming behavior of wild parrots. They cannot reach their heads or necks, and depend on other parrots to groom these areas. This grooming behavior also promotes bonding between a bird and its flock. Scratching your parrot's head is a great way to gain its confidence and to establish trust. Quite often, it will be possible to scratch your bird's head before it will step up on your hand.

Talking softly to your parrot and being careful not to make sudden moves toward it will help the bird relax in your presence. Wild parrots must watch for predators, and sudden movements can cause them to panic. Parrots can deliver painful bites if threatened, but their behavior and vocalizations can warn you of an impending bite. Amazon parrots constrict the pupils of their eyes when over excited; parrots may also fan their tails and adopt a horizontal posture before biting.

Wild parrots frequently vocalize to connect with their mates, babies, and flocks. Talk ing to your parrot frequently can help build its trust. Patience is key; if the bird won't approach you, try offering it a favorite treat. Mated parrots feed each other, and of course they feed their young. Hand feeding your bird helps you bond with the bird, and also helps the bird overcome any fear of your hands. (Never feed birds chocolate, avocado, or apricots as they are toxic) Continue to "chat" with your bird as it eats its treat.

Your bird will soon connect your presence with food; it may approach looking for treats. Talk to your parrot and watch its behavior. If the parrot ruffles its head feathers or bows its head, that is an invitation for grooming. Once your parrot is comfortable with grooming, you

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