Is your bird empathetic to your feelings?

[parrotntn]

Having interest in pet therapy, this question is important.
A relative told me recently that they don't believe:
1-a bird can "feel" your feelings
2-A bird can speak related to those feelings. Let's say your having a bad day and he/she says something like, "it's OK"...

I know they can, but I wanted to hear from you guys some specific examples. I did read where some guy had went thru a divorce and he had to temporarily rehome his bird. Upon getting him back the bird said, according to him, "why did you leave me there so long?" He'd never before or since used that phrase. That's a lil hard to swallow, but anything is possible.
Thanks!
Mark

[Vega]

HEy MArk, I just posted a thread about I love them so much!

I don't know if they can verbalize it though. Most of the words (so I've read) are just mimicks of our sounds (words) without much meaning to the bird. However, i believe over time they beging to associate "sounds" with things...like yum yum when they eat, or WHAT when you call their name.

[bb100]

I think any animal is empathetic.

1) One day I was about to answer my Hubs all annoyed & Max beat me to the punch with a "one liner" angry retort. We just about died laughing & there went the tiff. On a serious note, when I'm not feeling well Max does seem to be more concerned & snuggly. I think he knows.

2) I was out walking my dog one night & a strange Man approached. My dog immediately sensed I was uncomfortable and flashed his sparkly white canines with hairs raised & growls. He is the friendliest pooch around but that day he sensed it. The man did walk no run away.

[MiniMama]

well, hmm on this one... I think they pick up on behaviors that are to their liking. They are completely oblivious, for instance, when I say !NO! and give them the dirty look when they are chewing holes in my shirt. Displeasure is not something they pick up on, me thinks. They also fail to undertand when I am busy or rushed, unless that is parrot speak for play time. But happiness - now that is an emotion macaws can get down with at any time!

[jimpierce7]

Sophie is actually cuddly when something big has me down. Neither her or Zoey will leave me along. They want me there with them and they DO try to comfort me. Benji even stays quiet. When I am quite happy about something all three chitter and chatter and bounce all over their cages never getting loud but seemingly joyful.

[Quito's Qage]

They can certainly pick up on your frustration or high stress level. This has been good for me, since after a stressful day at work I know I have to consciously damp that down before I try to handle them. If I'm not calm, and not able to radiate some positive feeling, I know its not a good time to handle them.

[featherduster]

1-a bird can "feel" your feelings
2-A bird can speak related to those feelings. Let's say your having a bad day and he/she says something like, "it's OK"...

YES, they can, an do!
My Severe Macaw (feamale) and my Timneh (male) are VERY in tune with what's going on around them and me.
It's quite freaky!

I do believe that bird did ask that. was it a Grey?

[jessica313]

shadow can definantly feel my feelings..
for example....
i recently have lost 2 close friends of mine ( in a 2 week period) and have been somewhat down. the first night i found out about my friend i was in bed crying and decided i wanted to cuddle with shadow. he cuddled with me for a LONG time (he usually only does it in short intervals lol) and kissed my face and licked my tears. he definantly knew i was unhappy and he comforted me

[GreetingCardReligion]

Birds can definantly sense your feelings!! This can be both good and bad. Sometimes if you are angry or stressed it can stress out the bird and make him/her act differently or less comfortable than usual. I do believe that birds can also empathize and, like so many people here suggested, do their best to comfort the people they love with cuddles, cooing noises or even reassuring words.

They are living creatures and definantly feel emotions, so it seems a more than reasonable step to say that they can feel emotions in others and react accordingly.

As far as birds understanding the things that they say - ABSOLUTELY! I definantly think that birds who speak the same language as their human are trying to communicate - not just mindlessly repeating words and phrases. If you read the Alex Studies, you'll be astounded at just how much that these parrots can understand - labels and abstract concepts - it really is amazing. Birds use alot of sounds to communicate with eachother, it makes sense that if they learn human sounds they would also use those to communicate as well.

[Tullysmom]

I totally think birds can feel your feelings. No question.

I had a really rough day yestday,waterworks the whole bit, and I sat down on the couch, Tully was on his perch. He saw me and said, "Whas a matter baby?" Which made me cry harder of course. Then he flew over to me, climbed up my arm and said, "Oh honey." over and over. And made little kissing nosies. It was so sweet and so out of character for him really. He's usually a bit of a pill. And true, none of these phrases were new to him, but he's never said them together like that. All I know is that he made me feel lots better.