Why is Elvis beak clicking?

[sunnysmom]

Okay, Elvis recently started beak clicking. He first started doing it to my fiancé but then the past couple mornings has done it with me. I have no idea what this means...... ? He still beak grinds when he's sleepy, etc. The beak clicking is something new for us.

 

[Tiel Feathers]

When I had my cockatoo, I could never really figure out what his beak clicking meant. Sometimes he seemed happy, sometimes he seemed cranky. I found this on the web:
Communicate with your Bird | Beauty of Birds

 

[sunnysmom]

When I had my cockatoo, I could never really figure out what his beak clicking meant. Sometimes he seemed happy, sometimes he seemed cranky. I found this on the web:
Communicate with your Bird | Beauty of Birds

Thanks. That was interesting. Elvis doesn't seem mad when he does it. He usually does it when he's getting scratches.... I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a mating thing. Always something new with him. LOL.

 

[HolliDaze]

I was told it was a bonding behavior, but Dex also does this whenever he sees (saw) the dog. He'll do it while getting cuddles, too.

 

[cassiesdad]

Milton clicks a lot. If he's excited, it's a very fast clicking. I have to watch him then...over-excitement can lead to bites.

Slow clicks mean happiness and contentment...at least from Milty...

 

[Begone]

All my Pionus have done that, I always thought that it was a Pionus thing.
Eloy did that when he was young and created a bond to me, he was also exited at the same time. He did click pretty slow compare to my girls.
Akela do that when she is exited to be with me or Eliy, I don't know if it's sexual, I always thought that it just was a happy click.
Eliy do that when she is happy and exited, but only to me that she is bonded to.
Their beak clicking has never been a aggressive behavior.

 

[cassiesdad]

Milty's clicking has never led directly to biting, which is good. But the fast clicking means he's a happy birdie. You have to take his body language into account when he's clicking, of course...

 

[Begone]

Milty's clicking has never led directly to biting, which is good. But the fast clicking means he's a happy birdie. You have to take his body language into account when he's clicking, of course...

And I also think that it is a big different with Cockatoos and Pionus.
I guess that one Cockatoo is like 50 Pionus. (at least females)

 

[LunaLovebird]

My lovies do it when they want to mate. It seems to form part of their little ritual.

 

[Sarahmoluccan]

Zane and Echo do it all the time. I take it as a very friendly gesture. They when they preen each other or when digging in blanket together. Here's an example of them happy clicking

 

[JLcribber]

Yea it covers a range of things/emotions. They do click a lot. lol

 

[sunnysmom]

Thanks everyone. Good to know it's normal. It's just weird that we've had him this long and he just started doing it.

 

[cassiesdad]

Thanks everyone. Good to know it's normal. It's just weird that we've had him this long and he just started doing it.

Reminds me of the time my wife first heard a guinea pig "purring"...she thought that something was wrong or he was sick...

 

[melissasparrots]

Mine make different kinds of clicking. If my GSC2 makes a clicking sound like we would make by clicking our tongue against the top part of our mouth, then she's trying to solicit affection. My goffin's does more of a clacking where the top and bottom beak click together. That sometimes precedes aggression but not always. If he makes that noise, I make sure my face is turned away from him or not within easy reach. He hasn't done it for a few years. The last time I remember him doing it was about the same time he went through a few months of face grabbing aggression.

 

[Bokkapooh]

All my Pionus have done that, I always thought that it was a Pionus thing.
Eloy did that when he was young and created a bond to me, he was also exited at the same time. He did click pretty slow compare to my girls.
Akela do that when she is exited to be with me or Eliy, I don't know if it's sexual, I always thought that it just was a happy click.
Eliy do that when she is happy and exited, but only to me that she is bonded to.
Their beak clicking has never been a aggressive behavior.

Beak clicking in cockatoos can most definitely = aggression.

It depends on how fast a cockatoo is doing it.

If it's slow it is happiness and bonding(this includes a tongue and upper beak action)

If it's quick and with a click each time the mandible come together you're about to get your bum kicked. (This warning click includes both mandible touching, no tongue).

They also do a fast click when bathing too.

As Cassieddads says, depends on their body language.

 

[sunnysmom]

Beak clicking in cockatoos can most definitely = aggression.

It depends on how fast a cockatoo is doing it.

If it's slow it is happiness and bonding(this includes a tongue and upper beak action)

If it's quick and with a click each time the mandible come together you're about to get your bum kicked. (This warning click includes both mandible touching, no tongue).

They also do a fast click when bathing too.

As Cassieddads says, depends on their body language.

Thanks. So far, it's just been a slow click. I'll watch though for a fast click. So far, Elvis really has not been aggressive- but I know he's a too..... So.....

 

[Sarahmoluccan]

With my two 95% time when they click it's happy clicking. Zane will sometimes does hard clicks at the vets. To me it just means he's not happy and not always aggressive. It more of a warning sign. For me its not the speed I pay attention to, it's loud and hard or soft and quiet.

 

[Dartman]

Dobby does it, Lurch did it, Nerd did it. It could be happiness or a warning depending on the body language. Dobby also does a tongue click noise like clock clock clock and it usually means he's excited and happy to see you. Of course he loves to make all kinds of whistles, electronic noises, and talks when he's really excited about something. Lurch did similar but he did a LOT more talking with everything else he knew.

 

[Begone]

Dobby also does a tongue click noise like clock clock clock and it usually means he's excited and happy to see you.

Eloy did the same, I think it's a male thing.

Dobby does it, Lurch did it, Nerd did it.

That's why I always thought that is was a Pionus thing.

 

[samccormack]

Elima does it when she wants attention and she is coming to me. she’ll go click click click and takes a step to me and says “hop up?” then repeats a few times. sometimes she also does a single click and a hop. in her case it’s all happy clicks.