What is She Doing? Wing Quivering..

[jylu97]

Hi, I have a 20+ year-old female YNA that I've had since she's been weaned. I know her so well since we've been together so long, except I cannot figure out why she does this, primarily in the morning. She points her head low towards the corner of the cage, flattens her body, quivers her wings, and mutters the same thing every time. These "episodes" last for about 10 seconds. She does this several times. Any idea?

Liz

[T.W.]

My YNA, Elvis, who is also 20 (we've only had him since he was 15) does the exact same thing. Except he doesn't mutter when he does it. I always think of it as a cutesy thing, like he's being a baby, he does it while looking and facing my direction. Maybe he's trying to sucker me into walking over so he can take a bite of me!!!!!! He does this every day, and there is nothing physically wrong with him, so maybe it is an amazon trait.

[jenseits]

Not an Amazon owner here, but when my conure crouches low and flutters his wings, it means he wants to go somewhere. If he's facing me, it generally means he wants me to go over and pick him up.

Could that be what your Elvis means?

[T.W.]

Yeah, but in Elvis' case, if I went over, he would take a chunk out of me. I do think it is a baby lovey thing, it's adorable, and he knows I like it, he unfortunately is only handlable (sp?) off of his cage and out of his room, and accomplishing that feat is an adventure. He holds onto his cage for dear life and yells, I won't!!!!!!!! He also gets bent out of shape if anybody else leaves the room He had a rough first 15 yrs of life

[tamaran2]

Yea, My Ekkie does the same thing. I means PICK ME UP, I would fly to you, don't you see I have wings and I could do it, but I'm polite and I want you to want me....

[wildirish]

My husbands YNA (who hates me to death) will do the baby wing flutters at me too, espescially when I talk to her. However, she thinks I am a blood bank and continually tries to make withdrawls! LOL!

[T.W.]

Guess we both have anemic YNA's!!!!!!! The vampiric need for human blood is never quenched!!!!!!!!!

[jylu97]

I believe this is called a "flight intention" movement (from the amazonasociety.org website)-- however, I have no idea where my bird wants to go as she is always pointing in the same direction (unless she wants to go across the street), which is away from me! She often does this and points to food, but here, in the mornings, she is always pointing away from me.

[jenseits]

Originally Posted by jylu97

I have no idea where my bird wants to go as she is always pointing in the same direction (unless she wants to go across the street), which is away from me!

Isn't it possible that she sees something outside and that is actually where she wants to go?

[jylu97]

No, there's nothing outside. She sometimes is a mystery. I wonder if this is her way of just telling me she wants "out."