DEBATE: Yawning Birds

[Monica]

I know many different people have different views and opinions on this, and many may say that birds do not yawn as they have an efficient respiratory system, and that they are only moving food around in their crop. Some other reasons for yawning would include a respiratory infection, ear infection, fungus infection... And if something is wrong, the bird could be noted for doing excessive amounts of yawning. Well, I'm just talking about normal yawns, not ones that could mean trouble....

So as far as the bird stretching out it's neck, and yawning, to move food around in the crop, I can believe this thesis. I've seen many birds do this before. In truth though, I rarely see my birds do this type of yawn, but I have seen it before.

As for yawning when scratching their ears, this may be something like trying to equalize the pressure between the middle and inner ears. An example would be like a person going up in an airplane, and there is pressure put on their ears which forces them to yawn to get rid of this pressure (or chewing bubble-gum). This feeling would be caused when an air pocket in the brain gets sensitive to the change in air pressure, and altitude. I'm not sure if the air pressure has anything to do with someone rubbing a birds ear, but I suspect so in some way. Casey occasionally does this, though Noel rarely ever does.

Then there is a third yawn. This yawn is usually consisted of a bird moving it's upper mandible as it gets ready to take a nap or go to sleep. There is no stretching of the crop or neck, just a simple movement of the upper portion of the beak. This I suspect to be a true yawn in the sense that the bird is breathing in more oxygen, as any animal, when they rest or sleep, do breath in less air. I've seen mainly my budgies and Casey do this type of yawn. I don't really see my other birds do this. In truth, I've seen birds do all three of these examples.

Yes, I understand that birds do have an efficient respiratory system, though then again do we know everything about birds yet? So then would it be possible for birds to actually be able to yawn in the sense that they are tired or bored?



I just thought that maybe I'd open up this topic for debate, since many of us have talked about it in the past....

[basketbagley]

Tinkerbell my tiel does a sorta yawn. usually when he is or has been "talking/chattering" a bit. he does stretch his neck up a little and opens his beak quite wide. this is the only time I see him do this sorta thing. I just always thought it was one of his querky tiel things he likes to do.

[yehudasf]

BS"D

All of my psittazen companions yawn. As they settle in for the night, they will yawn with maxilla & mandible separated and tongue clearly visible. This is usually followed by either a shake of the head, or a full body fluff. They then close their eyes, & begin the mandible grinding opus in b sharp. Even neonatal macaws, shortly after a feeding will yawn as they settle back to sleep. A point of interest, large parrots, like primates are susceptible to "yawn transmission". This, simply put, means that if they observe another parrot, & in many cases, their human yawn, they will yawn. In the >40 years that I have lived with psittazen companion Macaws, I've never observed one that did not yawn as "sleepy-time" approched. When they stretch their wings (one at a time, to the side), mine also yawn then (usually when first waking).

[Freedomoflight]

Yup, my birds yawn too- no doubt about it.

[LMPego]

Cory has 2 yawns that I've seen. One is the normal bored/tired yawn in which only the top of the beak moves. The other is after a shower and her upper beak moves and she sticks her tongue out a little bit - this is what I believe to be the "clearing the ears" yawn.

[birdyland]

Tiki yawns when I rub her ears....


Niki and Tiki both do it occasionally before nap/bedtime

[Skyebirdsmom]

All the birds I have had all yawned at different times. Quakers, Cockatiels, CAG, and Parrotlet.
:o)
Linda & Skye~

[BirdsUnlimited]

I've lived w/ birds for 30 + years myself. I still don't believe birds yawn as we do. Parrots also don't have a maxilla as humans do. A maxilla is fixed, or part of the skull, parrots are able to move both of their beaks independently, mandibles.

[yehudasf]

BS"D

BirdsUnlimited

Parrots also don't have a maxilla as humans do. A maxilla is fixed, or part of the skull, parrots are able to move both of their beaks independently, mandibles.

When I see statements like this, it reminds me why I take the time to post to parrot forums. Being sure of something does NOT make one correct. I will quote from a few authoritative sources i.e. Avian veterinarians, biologists, etc, & provide clickable links to the URLs, so that anyone can see that the above quoted assertion is patently false:

Surgical Correction of Palatine Bone Luxation in a Blue-and-Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) ... Physical examination findings were normal except for a hyperextended maxillary beak...The maxillary beak was then hyperextended while the luxated palatine bones were concurrently reduced ventrally to their anatomic position

FIRST URL

Beaks: Anatomy, Care, and Diseases
Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. ... A bird, like a mammal, has two jaws: the upper is the maxilla and the lower is the mandible. The nostrils, or nares, are located at the junction between the beak and the head. In most parrots, a small, round, brown structure, called the operculum is found inside of the nostril.

SECOND LINK

Psittacines: What makes a parrot a parrot?
Holly Nash, DVM, MS ... Two characteristics set Psittacines apart from other birds. Psittacines have:

* A strong, hooked beak (maxilla) which has a hinge-like flexible attachment to the skull. The beak fits over the lower portion, called the mandible. Psittacines use the beak to aid in locomotion and larger birds also use it for prehension (holding objects).

THIRD LINK

The Nit pickers Physical Exam
or Beyond Upright and Feathered Fern Van Sant, DVM ... The beak should be smooth and shiny in neotropical birds and smooth and dusty in most old world birds. Dry flaky changes beneath the cere are abnormal. The mandible and maxilla should meet and be bilaterally symmetrical. Some flaking of the beak near the tip is normal.

FOURTH LINK

If I chose to take the time, I could list hundreds (actually > 2400) authoritative sources that prove what any student of avian physiology knows, that all parrots have a beak, composed of a mandible (lower beak), and a MAXILLA (upper beak). Asserting an outright falsehood as fact is what causes many inexperienced parrot companions to make sometimes fatal mistakes in the care of their psittazen companions. If you don't know the truth of the matter, DON'T POST. It is irresponsible in the extreme to pass off one's comment as an authoratative truth when in fact is naught more than an ill-informed lie.

[BirdzRmylife]

Originally Posted by Jodi

My BTM has yawned after seeing me do it...I thought it was too funny. She has done it several times since.

They say yawnings contagious .