already know that big parrots like cockatoos, macaws and amazons can
scream so loud that neighbors often complain, starting an all out witch hunt to
ban the species.
Although a mere whisper compared to the glass shattering, bull horn blasts of a larger parrot,
cockatiels can produce a whopper
of a scream too. If the scream becomes excessive for a prolonged
period of time on a daily basis, even the most devoted bird owner may get
annoyed and develop a throbbing headache. Our first line of defense against this
behavior is to
understand why birds use their voices and to recognize the difference between normal
and abnormal vocalization. Vocalization is a response to a situation in a
parrot's life and parrots use their voices to
communicate a message to us. Vocalization is also a tool for survival in both
wild birds and birds living in captivity as pets. Birds are not quiet animals like
goldfish. Vocalization is a natural part of parrot
behavior and all parrots, including cockatiels, will be loud and scream from time to time.
Loud, repetitive sounds that convey messages of
fear, frustration, discontent, desperation and unhappiness are all
characteristic of screaming. A screaming bird is not a happy bird and
this unhappiness is reflected in the actual tone of the bird's voice. Some folks heartlessly isolate their birds to
remote areas of the home like a garage or basement and neglect it. Others are
even worst and throw shoes at the cage, slam the cage with their hand thinking
this will stop the screaming or they leave the cage covered all day long. Then
we have those who just give their birds away and move on to a different species,
thinking it's going to be a different situation entirely. Others, who are responsible bird
owners with more patience, will learn why their bird is screaming
and they will take positive measures to correct this behavior.
Normal Vocalization. Very loud singing, chirping or squawking at
sunrise and sunset are normal types of vocalization. Listen to the wild birds outside. This
is when they are the most vocal and active, as flocks are gathering to
forage food in the morning and gathering to roost in the evening.
Our pet birds are no different and they will vocalize at sunrise and sunset as
well. Birds in the wild will also call
out to each other throughout the day to keep in contact with other members of
the flock so they are not abandoned. This is known as flock calling. Our pet
birds will flock call, to keep in touch with their human flock members as well. If you leave the room
, your bird may
scream trying to locate you. This is normal. Your bird needs reassurance that he/she has
not been abandoned by you. Calling back to your bird from where you are and
establishing a flock call, (a specific word or whistle to repeat whenever your
bird screams when you're out of his sight) will reassure your bird that you have
not abandoned him. A simple wolf whistle or a phrase like "YooHoo, YooHoo",
once recognized by your bird, is usually enough to stop the screaming.
Other Causes of Screaming: Birds in the wild also scream when they are frightened or when they perceive
danger. The purpose of the "alarm call" is to warn other
flock members of that danger. It's an instinctive behavior and one
necessary for survival. If your pet bird is frightened by a stranger, an intruder
or a perceived danger in your home, it's normal for him to scream too. You may have already noticed that your cockatiel is a very
effective "watch bird", screaming when he hears you coming home from
work or when he hears the mail carrier approaching your front door. Birds are tiny
animals compared to
other objects and creatures in the environment so they are always on high
alert for predators. From a bird's perspective, the new picture hanging on the
wall or the new, colorful toy or rope perch you put inside the cage can seem like big, frightening, bird eating
A cockatiel that feels
threatened or frightened will scream. Cockatiels are afraid of the sudden movements
of small animals or children, deep voices, humans screaming or yelling, the high pitched voices of some toddlers, loud music or televisions, slamming doors,
dogs, thunder, fireworks, firecrackers, the sounds of outdoor workers near the
home, the sound of the wind and wild birds. Any of these factors can cause a
cockatiel to scream. There are other causes besides fear, that
will spark an episode of screaming. Pet birds exhibit problematic vocalization in homes that
are, hectic, chaotic or overly energetic. Cockatiels that are
hormonal during longer hours of daylight in Spring and Summer, birds that are
bored or never taken out of the cage, birds that are overly excited, cranky, not
feeling well, tired from not getting enough sleep at
night (10-12 hours), birds that have had a
change in their environment or routine, grieving birds who have
lost a cage mate and single birds who are left home alone all day may also scream. In all of these situations, a certain
amount of screaming is to be expected and it's normal.
Although screaming is a part of owning a parrot
and a flock behavior, it's not normal for a pet bird to be
screaming all day. If 1 cockatiel
screams, it's more than likely that your other cockatiels will learn how to
scream too. Screaming becomes a behavior problem when a parrot learns
to scream excessively for attention. Our reaction to excessive vocalization will determine
whether or not this behavior becomes a habitual problem. Birds who are considered
screamers have in some
way been rewarded for this behavior, even though their reason for screaming is
rational from a bird's perspective. It's up to us to identify what has caused
screaming in the first place and to either eliminate the source if possible, or
to slowly desensitize
the bird to the source. We must then identify
what we have
been doing to reward and
reinforce screaming. If screaming is being caused by seeing wild birds outdoors,
move the cage away from the window. If a barking dog in the
bird's room causes screaming, don't let the dog in the bird room.
Most avian behavior consultants agree that negative behavior
like screaming should always be ignored and positive behavior, like being quiet,
tricks, talking or singing, should be rewarded. However, we
often do the exact opposite of what we should be doing by encouraging and
rewarding screaming. It's common for even the most
dedicated and loving cockatiel owner to ignore a bird when the bird is quietly
playing then reacting
with strong emotion and drama when a negative behavior like screaming is exhibited.
Your bird perceives any type of reaction to screaming as attention and a reward.
If your bird screams and you come rushing into
the room or go up to his cage or he if he screams and you yell at him to simmer
down and be quiet, you are giving him the attention he wants, You are
reinforcing the behavior. It doesn't matter if it's negative or positive attention, it's
It's much easier to prevent screaming than it is to deprogram a bird and stop
screaming once it becomes a habit and a constant call for attention. It takes a
great deal of patience to stop screaming but it can be done. Avian Behavior Consultant Liz Wilson
states that it takes about 10 days to eliminate an undesirable sound, like an
annoying word, from a bird's repertoire, and you do this by ignoring the word.
Getting a bird to stop screaming can take much longer. The habit did not develop
overnight it's not surprising if it takes just as long to undo the behavior that
we reinforced for so many months. There's also a pretty good chance that the screaming
will get louder and longer at first. Have patience and be firm. Ignore the screaming and do not show
any reaction to it at all.
Do not reward screams. Whenever you rush over to your bird in response to a scream, you
are teaching your bird that screaming gets the results he wants.
Establish a flock call so your bird can keep in contact with you when you
leave the room. Choose a word or whistle that your bird recognizes to let your bird know
Use your flock call when you leave the room so your bird knows where you are.
Yelling, punishing, responding with anger, banging on the cage bars or any other
negative responses will damage the trust your bird has in you. It also teaches
your bird that screaming gets desirable results.
Make vocal contact with your bird first, before he has a chance to
scream for you.
Ignore the screaming and only give your bird attention when he is quiet.
Walk out of the room and don't come back until your bird stops screaming.
Reward and praise your bird for good behavior like playing with toys or
making pleasant sounds
like chirping, talking or whistling.
Lower your energy level. If you are prone to talking or moving quickly and you show excitement in your voice,
use a more quiet, slower and calmer voice tone.
Keep the cage
away from doors and put it up against a wall, near a corner for security.
Keep the back of the cage covered so your bird has a place to retreat when
When your bird is hormonal, during Spring and Summer, cover the cage for 14 hours each night for 2 weeks to break the hormonal cycle.
If your bird always screams when you have company, move his cage into another room
where he will be more comfortable, before your guests arrive.
If you know your bird screams when you are cooking, walking the dog,
watering the garden or on the telephone,
distract him with some millet seed or a favorite toy before you start.
Although not always effective and as a last resort, covering the
cage may help to calm a bird that has been over stimulated by noisy children,
barking dogs or outside noises. Take the cover off when your bird is quiet.
Take your bird out of the cage several times a day when he's quiet, not when he starts
screaming, to break up boredom and give him the attention he needs..
Put your bird on a play gym when you are in another room folding laundry,
paying bills, reading etc. This gives your bird extra out of cage time.
Keep a supply of colorful, interesting shreddable and movable toys in the cage and rotate them every
week to keep your bird busy.
screaming should not be ignored. If your cockatiel's cage has been pounced on
by a dog or if he has just been frightened by your neighbor shooting off a
package of bottle rockets, it's necessary and appropriate for you to go over to
your bird and reassure him that he's safe. Screaming to greet you when you come
home from work is another exception. If you use your flock call then go over to the cage and say hello to
your bird when you come home each day, you can prevent screaming from
becoming habitual. Birds who have lost a mate also need reassurance so it's
appropriate for you to spend more time with them as well. If
your bird's screaming seems to be completely devoid of meaning, it's a good idea
to walk near the cage without maintaining eye contact or speaking, and check to
make sure that your bird is OK. The scream may be from having a toe caught in a
toy, or you may have forgotten to replace the water dish this morning or a mouse
or fly may have taken up residence in the cage. You may also want to consider taking
your bird to an avian vet for a check up to rule out pain caused by a health problems.