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Behavior and body language of budgies

They have their own language and are actually not understandable at all, but there are various vocalizations and behaviors that make it easier for us to learn how to understand them. If you know your budgies and their peculiarities, you already know what your budgie wants to tell you. Most of them have a certain whistle that tells you they are hungry. Others call out to wild birds outside. But why does a bird suddenly start preening itself when you're talking to it? Who in my flock is paired with whom? Who doesn't get along with the others and is constantly being chased?

Those who can answer these and many other questions will also notice more quickly when something is wrong with the budgies, when they are getting sick or are already ill. So let’s take a closer look at various behaviors.

Behaviors

Budgies have very social, neutral behaviors that can reveal their intentions or show you how the bird is feeling. If a budgie stretches and leisurely extends a leg and a wing, it usually means that the bird is relaxed and not agitated. It wants to turn to new activities after sleeping. They also send social behaviors to the other flock members. These are special signals that let them know how the bird is doing or what it plans to do.

Even unintended behavioral signals are perceived by their fellow birds. Whether a budgie is afraid can be seen by the flock members from its body posture and nervous movements. You can observe different behaviors from partners. Some sit next to or even in front of the budgie to support it, especially when it’s about catching the budgie for medication. But there are others who bring themselves to safety as far as possible. Usually, an alarm call is made to warn everyone of the impending danger.

Intention to Take Off

If a budgie plans to fly off, it slims down, slightly crouches, and usually twitches its wings. This wing twitching shows that the budgie is still very unsure where it will fly to.

abflugabsicht — The budgie is about to take off

Stretching

The budgie extends a leg and a wing, usually after periods of rest. It typically does the same with the other leg and wing afterward.

strecken — Budgie stretches its wing and leg

Dozing and Sleeping Position

When dozing, the bird rests on one leg, with the other tucked into its feathers. In the sleeping position, the bird also lays its head into its slightly ruffled back feathers. If the budgie always rests on two legs, it can be a sign of illness, as well as increased sleeping. In such cases, a bird-experienced veterinarian should be consulted.

schlafen — Sleeping with head tucked into feathers

Beak Grinding

When budgies feel completely comfortable and are slowly calming down, they often start grinding their beak. Once you've heard it, you'll notice how calming it is for yourself. It also has a calming effect on the budgies. The grinding sound is created by the movement of the lower beak along the inside of the upper beak, which has ridges that were probably originally meant for wearing down the beak. It also helps hold seeds better when eating.

Usually, only healthy budgies that feel comfortable make this beak-grinding sound. However, there are also budgies that never do this, even though they are healthy. That's why it's important to always observe your budgies carefully, so you can quickly recognize whether the budgie is truly well.

Beak Rubbing

In different situations, you can observe budgies rubbing their beaks on an object. This happens either when seeds or husks are still stuck to the beak after eating, or when the budgie has eaten something it didn't like. If a budgie has been briefly separated from its partner and they see each other again, you can sometimes observe both budgies rubbing their beaks on a branch. This is a type of greeting gesture. A budgie that feels embarrassed may also rub its beak as a displacement behavior.

reiben — A piece of wood used for beak cleaning

Gnawing Instinct

Especially female budgies have a strong gnawing instinct. These little beaks don't stop at wallpaper or even books.

This gnawing instinct is innate to the hens. Wild budgies must enlarge their nesting cavities as needed, which they do by gnawing with their beaks. This nest-building is crucial for survival and increases reproductive success.

nagender Vogel — The toy is being gnawed on

You can’t stop this behavior in budgies because it is part of their nature. As a budgie owner, you have to accept it. You can try to provide them with more variety. In areas where they shouldn't gnaw, cork can be attached. Cork is often gnawed by female budgies. Before giving it to the budgies, the cork should be cleaned and placed in the oven at 100 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.

Screeching

Budgies love to screech. This doesn't always mean they are scolding. Often, they do this out of exuberance, to express their energy and joy. But it can also mean that something is bothering the budgie, and it wants to express its displeasure.

The language of budgies is very diverse.

Contentment

Completely content budgies can be recognized by the fact that they pull up one leg and stand on the perch with only one leg. Additionally, their feathers are slightly fluffed up, giving them a round, not angular, appearance. They either grind their beaks or start singing. The singing can be soft and almost whispering, or it can be loud and seem like they’re broadcasting it to the world. This depends on the time of day. In the evening, they sing more quietly. The morning is usually their louder time. When pulling up their leg, there are also differences. Some pull the leg up completely so that it’s no longer visible, while others only pull it up a bit, and the claws are still visible. If the budgie is often fluffed up, even during normal activities, and the fluffing appears uneven, this indicates discomfort. In this case, a bird-experienced veterinarian should be consulted.

Discomfort

If the budgie sits fluffed up and unresponsive, it feels unwell and should be taken to a bird-experienced veterinarian. Another sign of discomfort is if they rarely sit on one leg. If you find them sleeping on two legs and sleeping frequently, these are alarming signs. They often squint their eyes, and their wings may droop slightly. You can usually tell from the budgie that it is not feeling well. It appears very weak.

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If a budgie is sick, it has a lower body temperature, less than 42 degrees Celsius. They shiver, which can be seen in their trembling wings, and they are very fluffed up. Cold feet are also common. It often happens that the budgie refuses to eat or is no longer able to take in food. In such cases, a bird-experienced veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible, otherwise the budgie will starve.

krank — The budgie on the left is sitting fluffed up

Lying Down

Occasionally, you may observe that some budgies lie down. It looks as if they are lying on their belly, with their feet barely or not at all visible. For most, it is just a peculiarity. However, you should pay attention to how often the budgie does this. If it is observed frequently, a bird-experienced veterinarian should be consulted, as it could indicate discomfort or even pain.

hinlegen — Budgie lying on top of the cage.

Head Rubbing

Budgies are often seen rubbing their heads against objects. During feather grooming, they can't always reach all areas to straighten their feathers. If no other budgie is nearby to help, they rub their heads against objects. Often, unopened feathers itch, or the feathers on the head need to be arranged. Pairs usually handle this task for each other by preening one another.

kopfreiben — Scratching the itchy spot on the wood

Scratching

When a budgie wants to scratch its head, it brings its leg behind its wing to reach the head. Only the front claws are used to scratch. During this, the feathers on the head are fluffed up. Parrots usually scratch in this unusual way, while other bird species raise the claw in front of the wing.

Budgies also scratch near the cloaca. To do this, they move their leg backward and twist it slightly so they can reach the cloaca with their claw. The claw is then repeatedly brushed over the cloaca to remove any fecal residue.

kratzender vogel — Budgie scratching its head

Body Care/Feather Grooming

Feather grooming includes: cleaning the feathers; scratching; head rubbing, usually against whatever is convenient; nibbling on feet; bathing; shaking feathers; wiping the beak on branches, usually after eating.

You can observe budgies grooming their feathers daily. This is important because if a budgie didn’t groom its feathers, it could lose its ability to fly, and the feathers could become stuck together due to dirt.

Budgies only groom themselves when they feel safe. Therefore, when a newly arrived budgie is present, you might not see much or any grooming on the first day. Usually, the movements are short and abrupt because the budgies are very tense. However, on the second or third day, they groom themselves properly and thoroughly.

There are areas a budgie can't reach by itself, such as the head and neck. These are usually groomed by their partner. This also serves to maintain social bonds. If no trusted budgie is nearby, the budgie will rub its head on a branch or other object.

putzen — Both budgies clearly enjoy grooming each other

Excessive grooming can indicate parasites, while too little or no grooming can signal illness. In such cases, please contact a bird-experienced veterinarian.

In the wild, budgies only groom themselves in large flocks because not every individual can keep an eye on the surroundings at all times. The head disappears into the feathers for a few seconds repeatedly. This can be fatal for a budgie if a predator takes advantage of the opportunity. In a flock, at least one budgie is always on watch and can give an alarm call to warn everyone if a predator approaches.

Feather Shaking

Domesticated budgies occasionally fluff up their feathers and then shake them vigorously. This serves to release physical tension. If the feathers were still tightly pressed together, they could easily injure themselves during the shaking, which is why they fluff up their feathers first.

Small bits of dirt are also shaken off in this process. Budgies in molting season lose a lot of feather dust. This comes from the opening of new feathers.

After being handled, perhaps for administering medication, budgies shake their feathers vigorously to realign them. Budgies also shake their feathers after a fight or mating.

schuettelnder Vogel — All feathers are being shaken out

Wild budgies do this when they are physically tense, for example, when a predator is nearby. They tense their muscles and are ready to fly away as quickly as possible.

Feather Fluffing

When it comes to fluffing their feathers, it’s important to distinguish whether they are doing it because the budgie is resting or sleeping, or because it might be sick. Those who know their birds well and observe them closely can recognize this quickly.

Budgies lightly fluff up their feathers when they feel completely comfortable. They often sing a song at the same time, with the head feathers slightly raised. Below the beak, the cheek feathers and throat spots appear fluffy. In general, the feathers around the head are very fluffed up, and the budgie's face is barely visible, almost hidden.

plustern singen — Snow has all her head feathers fluffed up

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If a budgie is cold, it fluffs up its feathers very much, tucking in one leg, and usually stays in place. They are often alert in this position and do not close their eyes. Pet budgies feel cold at temperatures below 18 degrees Celsius. If the budgie is cold, you can also recognize it by its cold feet and the trembling of its wing tips and tail feathers. By fluffing up, a layer of air forms under the feathers, which helps retain body heat. As a result, they don't get as cold despite the chilly air. Budgies are considered hardy in winter, but they should still have access to a heated shelter if kept in outdoor aviaries. The birds should be able to retreat there when it gets too cold.

If the budgie is tired, it fluffs up its feathers and turns its head into its back feathers to sleep. You can often hear the calming sound of beak grinding, and from their slight blinking, you can tell they are very tired. Throughout sleep, the feathers remain slightly fluffed up, which helps the bird maintain body heat.

During courtship, males raise their head feathers to impress their chosen female. If the female fluffs her head feathers in response, it shows that she approves of the male. If she doesn’t like the male, she flattens her feathers tightly against her body and threatens him with an open beak.

Budgies also fluff their feathers during grooming. While grooming, they spread the oil from their uropygial gland, located on their back between the wings, over each individual feather. This works best when the feathers are fluffed up. Therefore, fluffing is almost a requirement for proper grooming. Feathers that are out of place are also rearranged. Daily grooming is essential to prevent losing their ability to fly. Healthy budgies groom themselves at least once a day.

If the bird is sick, it either doesn’t groom its feathers at all or only minimally.

A budgie's body temperature is around 42 degrees Celsius. When they are sick, this temperature drops significantly, and the budgie feels cold and fluffs its feathers extensively. However, it doesn't fluff up in the same round manner as a healthy budgie. The fluffing is unevenly fluffed. Additionally, the budgie doesn’t sit upright but rather slouches. If you notice this behavior in your budgie, it is important to urgently consult a bird-experienced veterinarian for an examination.

Yawning

When yawning, the budgie opens its beak wide, and the tongue is visible. Afterward, the beak is closed again. During this, the bird doesn’t focus on another flock member. The eyes may be either closed or open, as each budgie does it differently. Just like with humans, this behavior is contagious among the present budgies. It can also be triggered by a lack of oxygen or by tiredness.

You can also observe yawning shortly after a budgie has been preened or scratched itself. There is a small spot just below the ear opening that triggers yawning as a reflex. Additionally, if a feather tickles this spot, the budgie will scratch itself and yawn with its beak wide open and tongue sticking out. This can happen several times in a row. The feather is very irritating to the budgie, and it tries to remove it. This is often seen during molting.

Overheating / Panting

Panting, spreading the wings, and closely fitting feathers indicate that the budgie is too warm. This can be caused by a room that is too warm or frequent flying. Budgies cannot sweat because they don’t have sweat glands. They try to cool their body temperature by spreading their wings, which allows air circulation where the wings usually lie. Panting is often added to this, with the budgie evaporating saliva through breathing, using its tongue and throat.

gespreizte flügel — Budgie spreading its wings

Crossed Wings

Crossing the wings is often seen during courtship. The wing tips are crossed behind the back. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the male is courting a female; it can also happen that he is courting an object. This gesture can also indicate that the budgie is very happy and feels comfortable. To humans, this behavior may seem cheeky.

gekreuzte flügel — Budgie with crossed wings

Wing Twitching

Wing twitching has different meanings. The budgie might be about to take off and hasn’t decided yet where to fly. This wing twitching is often accompanied by a slight back-and-forth stepping motion, and sometimes the wings are briefly spread.

Sometimes budgies have too much energy and need to release it. Often, after wing twitching, you’ll see them start a big flight.

Wing twitching is also shown as a threat to another budgie. This is often seen in males when they observe another male courting their female. This is usually accompanied by a soft cooing sound. The feathers are closely pressed against the body, with only the head feathers standing straight up. The budgie’s body leans slightly forward while twitching its wings. It’s not uncommon for this to lead to minor scuffles between the two rivals.

If the budgie is too warm, it will press its feathers tightly against its body, spread its wings, and slightly open its beak to pant. You may also see its wings twitching slightly due to rapid breathing.

Stepping

Occasionally, you can observe budgies stepping on each other. This stepping can have various meanings depending on the situation.

Stepping is often seen during courtship. The male budgie becomes increasingly excited and wants to mate with the female. Mating takes place on the female’s back, so the male has to step onto her. This stepping signals his intentions to the female, either by stepping on her back or her wing. You can also observe a male stepping onto the tail feathers of a female during courtship. This is part of the courtship ritual and is not intended to be aggressive.

treten Balz — The right budgie places its foot on the other

Budgies do not have a strict pecking order. Therefore, small disagreements often occur, usually accompanied by threatening gestures. They argue, and a small power struggle ensues. If one of the budgies backs down, it often gets stepped on. The chest or wing area is usually the target of these steps. These are light, quick steps intended to push the other budgie away. If the opponent retreats, they are the loser. If the struggle continues and their vocalizations become louder, you might want to consider intervening before one gets seriously injured. These light steps may escalate into the use of claws, and the budgies might cling tightly to each other.

treten bei Balz — Blue budgie stepping on another threatening budgie

If budgies are kept in pairs, you may see this behavior in same-sex pairs as well. Both hens and cocks test who is more dominant. The stepping often targets the wings. You may also observe this behavior occasionally in flocks.

Fear, Startling

When the bird is afraid, it makes itself tall and slender, pressing its feathers tightly against its body. Sometimes the wings are slightly spread. The eyes are wide open, and if the budgie has an iris ring, it is clearly visible. The bird nervously glances around. Even if it was previously engaged in an activity, it stops what it was doing. If the fear is severe, it breathes heavily and crouches down. Its heart rate increases significantly, which can be seen by the rapid movement of its chest. The bird’s body is in a horizontal position. Some budgies lie down. This crouching is a preparation for possible flight, allowing them to escape quickly. Remaining still and behaving as inconspicuously as possible is instinctual for them. In the wild, it is important that budgies remain unnoticed so that predators don’t spot them.

If a budgie gets very startled, it will take off immediately. This often leads to small accidents because these little Australians fly off too hastily and don’t yet know where they’re headed. If you have a very skittish budgie, you should speak to it calmly and quietly while moving a little further away. Movements should be slow to avoid further scaring the bird. It’s best not to raise your hands, as this can make many budgies even more frightened.

Cropping

Sometimes, budgies inflate their crop by allowing air to flow into it. This behavior is more common in males and is often observed during courtship, as they try to impress their females and sing beautiful songs to them.

If the crop is permanently inflated, it could indicate illness, and the bird should be taken to a bird-experienced veterinarian as soon as possible.

Beak Tapping

During courtship, male budgies often tap their beaks against the female's beak. However, they also tap on objects, especially if the male is too shy to tap the female's beak.

gegenstand anbalzen — The piece of wood is being courted.

Vigilance

In the wild, it’s important for budgies to always be vigilant. That’s why they prefer to stay in large flocks, as they don’t have the ability to monitor their surroundings while grooming. In a flock, at least one budgie always keeps watch and can warn everyone with a call if a predator approaches.

aufpassen — Vigilant male observing his surroundings

With pet budgies, you can easily tell whether they are relaxed or alert. When they are vigilant, they are usually quiet and keep their feathers closely pressed to their body. They also tense their body, keep their eyes wide open, and look around nervously in all directions. The upper body is slightly raised, and the head is also lifted as much as possible to keep everything in sight. If the bird remains tense or becomes scared, it will flee immediately.

Self-Perfuming

On rare occasions, budgies rub plant substances into their feathers as if perfuming themselves. For example, they may take a basil leaf, chew it in their beak, and then rub it into their feathers. This plant substance is used as part of their grooming routine. It is believed that these plant oils help protect the feathers from parasites.

Eating Droppings

Young budgies are often observed eating their droppings. When budgies have just fledged, they need to learn to feed themselves as quickly as possible. At first, this is quite difficult because they struggle to split seeds. As a result, they don’t eat enough, and because they eat fewer seeds, they may not get enough to eat. To avoid nutrient deficiencies, they often eat their droppings. Droppings often still contain some nutrients that the body did not absorb.

This is why hygiene is very important for budgies! Droppings can also contain many bacteria that could make the bird sick.

Excessive Feeding

Several times a day, you can see budgies feeding each other. However, it can happen that one budgie becomes too eager and develops an overactive feeding drive. The budgie wants to feed everyone and everything constantly. Sometimes it even forces food on its partner. In the process, the other budgie is often smeared with food, making its feathers sticky and wet.

fuettern — Budgie being fed by its partner

Drooping Wings

Sometimes, depending on the situation, you may see a budgie letting its wings droop or tense. If the bird is tired or sick, it lets its wings droop. If the bird is excited and full of energy, it won’t let its wings hang.

Of course, this also depends on the individual budgie. Some always let their wings droop, while others do not. If a bird suddenly starts letting its wings hang all day, you should take it to a bird-experienced veterinarian. It could indicate illness.

haengende fluegel — Budgie with drooping wings

Hanging on the Cage

If a budgie frequently or constantly hangs on the cage, gripping it with its beak, it may indicate a respiratory problem. The bird is trying to overextend its windpipe to breathe more easily. If untreated, this could be fatal and requires urgent attention from a bird-experienced veterinarian!

Displacement Behavior

When a budgie doesn’t know how to react in certain situations, it may display displacement behavior. You can often see this when you approach the cage, and the budgies suddenly start preening, even though they were previously doing something else. This is usually unrelated behavior. The bird becomes embarrassed or conflicted and doesn’t know how to react. Other examples of displacement behaviors include rubbing the beak on a branch, sudden dozing or even feigned sleeping, and pecking at food. These are all signs of the budgie’s emotional state.

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Cropping

If the crop is permanently inflated, it could indicate illness, and the bird should be taken to a bird-experienced veterinarian as soon as possible.

Beak Tapping

During courtship, male budgies often tap their beaks against the female's beak. However, they also tap on objects, especially if the male is too shy to tap the female's beak.

Vigilance

Self-Perfuming

Eating Droppings

This is why hygiene is very important for budgies! Droppings can also contain many bacteria that could make the bird sick.

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Behavior and body language of budgies

Behaviors

Intention to Take Off

Stretching

Dozing and Sleeping Position

Beak Grinding

Beak Rubbing

Gnawing Instinct

Screeching

Contentment

Discomfort

Lying Down

Head Rubbing

Scratching

Body Care/Feather Grooming

Feather Shaking

Feather Fluffing

Yawning

Overheating / Panting

Crossed Wings

Wing Twitching

Stepping

Fear, Startling

Cropping

Beak Tapping

Vigilance

Self-Perfuming

Eating Droppings

Excessive Feeding

Drooping Wings

Hanging on the Cage

Displacement Behavior

Cropping

Beak Tapping

Vigilance

Self-Perfuming

Eating Droppings

Excessive Feeding

Drooping Wings

Hanging on the Cage

Displacement Behavior

Content:

Social Behavior