Redirected aggression is a behavioral term that applies to an aggressive behavior in which an animal switches its target from one object to another. For example, if unable to bite a specific person because it cannot reach him/her, a pet parrot might shift its aggressive behavior to another person that it can reach.
Displaced aggression is defined as an aggressive behavior that expresses itself in a different direction than toward the actual focus of the aggression. For example, a pet parrot might bang loudly on its cage bars when it would really like to bite the daylights out of someone. Therefore, redirected aggression involves changing the target of the aggression. Displaced aggression involves changing the behavior by which the animal expresses its aggression.
Disclaimer: BirdChannel.com’s Bird Behavior Index is intended for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the expertise and experience of a professional veterinarian. Do not use the information presented here to make decisions about your bird’s health if you suspect your pet is sick. If your pet is showing signs of illness or you notice changes in your bird’s behavior, take your pet to the nearest veterinarian or an emergency pet clinic as soon as possible.