[stepht25]

So, we've had Buddy a little over a month now. (He's a Yellow Backed Chattering Lory.) Just this past weekend I started working "hands on" with him. Things are going really well, but I'm still having a hard time figuring out his body language and some of the noises he makes! For instance - he growls a lot when he's on my hand, eyes pinning, tail flaring. Now if any of my other birds did this - it would be safe to say they were mad and a bite was about to occur if I didn't back off. But with Buddy - he growls and then rubs his head on my hand or licks my hand. So is it safe to say growling is not an "I'm angry, back off" sound for Lories?

Another thing he does is throw his head high in the air and come at my hand in a stabbing like motion. But, he never actually stabs or bites my hand hard. Sometimes he makes a sound that even sounds like an angry noise while doing the stabbing motion with his beak - but again, he's always gentle.

Something else he does - I'm not sure if it's just silly, happy Lory behavior - or more of a sexual behavior. He'll get on my hand with both feet, kind of lean back and down and slowly bob up and down. At first I thought he was trying to rub his vent on my hand - but he doesn't actually seem to be. So I'm not sure! LOL (but if he is - I certainly don't want to encourage that behavior)

Last but not least, he likes to stand with 1 foot on a swing or perch and grab one of my fingers with his other foot and move my hand back and forth or shake it up and down. (he'll also do this if he's fully on 1 hand and I offer the other hand - grab it with 1 foot and shake/swing it.) His eyes pin a lot and then he gently bites my hand all over, licking it also, and rubbing his head on my hand.

Almost forgot - a lot of times while we're interacting and he's on my hand - he kind of fluffs up the feathers on his back. To the point where they stick out some between his wing feathers. Wasn't sure if that meant anything or not?

Don't know if it matters or not - but I don't know for sure what sex Buddy is. I was told he was male - but not + they knew for sure. Also, he is approx. 3-4 yrs. old.

Any help or insight anyone has is most appreciated!