Question about senegal behavior

[Merkuri]

I've seen my six month old senegal, Soki, do this strange behavior a few times and wondered if anyone here could figure out why she was doing it. She stands with her wings slightly away from her body and down and shivers for a few minutes. I've seen her do this a few times after a bout of panicked flapping in her cage as if she was tired but still scared and ready to fly away, but I've seen her do this a few times without the panicked flapping beforehand, and I think she's only done it without the flapping when my boyfriend has been interacting with her. She's also usually looking at him while she does it, which makes me think that he has something to do with it. She just did it this morning after stepping up onto his hand and for a minute afterwards after he put her back down on her playstand.

I would say it's a fear reaction, but she is very much not afraid of my boyfriend. She stepped up onto his hand willingly this morning (she was not pushed or forced, just offered the hand) and she often flies to him of her own accord and preens his hair and beard (I'm proud to say she isn't a one-person bird yet, though she's with me alone for most of the time). The other possible reason I could think of would be some sort of mating reaction, but she's not mature yet (I don't think) and I don't know for certain that she's a she.

So does anyone know what this wings-slightly-held-out-while-shivering behavior could mean? She's only done it three or four times that I can recall, and I'm just curious more than anything.

[Rue]

...sounds like she's 'in the mood'...

[dyeman]

I would agree, my Meyers does this at certain times when she is with me, and her behavior is definitely offering to mate. I have seen this in immature birds before. We had a 8 month old Grey at the store that would do this whenever I picked her up. I simply had to let my wife handle her for awhile.

Originally Posted by Rue

...sounds like she's 'in the mood'...

[danforth3]

As Ellie Mae says she wants some more of the attention. My sennie does that whenever she sees me, whether or not she is in or out of the cage, and even if she is with my husband. She does that for no one but me right now.

[Monica]

Either attention or the 'in the mood' part I'd go with! I've had Casey (my cockatiel) since she was about 6 months in Nov 2001. Tiels don't normally mature till they are around 2 years old, though she's been masterbating or just "in the mood" since before the day I had received her (she was completely human raised, as well... because of this behavoir however is probably how she was so easy to sex at such a young age before I had gotten her!).

[Merkuri]

Heh, okay. I thought it might be that but figured she was too young. I guess that means I was right and she's really a girl. I let my boyfriend know what it probably means when she does that, but I'm gonna watch him closely to make sure she doesn't steal him away.

[birdsnthings]

That sounds like the I want attention and excited stance.

[Rue]

...I don't think it means she's a girl (although I think there's often a pref. for human flock members of the opposite sex)...

...when we got Ever, I was told she has a definate preference for males...which was obvious right when we brought her home...but since I've been her primary caregiver for the past month, she's bonded most with me...and displays to me! LOL...we're both girls...

...nothing much I can do for her...so I ignore her or distract her...