Author: Laura Doering

Bird seed foods are commercial seed mixes formulated specifically for pet birds. These mixes are tailored to specific bird species or by beak size. In general, the smaller the beak, the smaller the seeds, and the bigger the beak, the bigger the seeds. Our feathered companions are notorious for “choosing favorites” when it comes to what’s in their food bowl. Many pet birds will pick through the seed mix to weed out their short list of favorites (especially higher-fat seeds like sunflower and safflower) and ignore others.,While a seed mix is often a go-to bird food because of its familiarity, a seed-only diet can fall short nutritionally for pet birds. Bird pellets, on the other hand, are formulated to offer a uniform complete blend of nutrition. As a bird parent, it’s important to understand the differences between seed and pellet diets in order to give your feathered friend the best food for their unique needs.

Flying isn’t the only way birds get around. Your bird might also try to climb your face while exploring. In the wild, birds spend a lot of their time climbing trees and hanging from branches, so climbing comes naturally to them.   Birds like to explore different textures. If your bird is on you, they might try to climb up your face to reach the hair on top of your head. Or they might try to climb down from your head onto your face to explore your facial features such as your eyelashes, eyebrows, nose, ears, and lips.   If you wear eyeglasses, a bird might climb onto your face to play with them. Young birds especially tend to be “beaky” and seek out different textures with their beaks. ,You’re trying to relax with your pet bird nearby, but instead, you feel the flutter of feathers and little bird feet ascending your cheek like a climber attempting to tackle Everest. What started as quality out-of-cage time with your bird now has you asking yourself, “Why is my bird trying to climb my face?”   Here are some reasons why your pet bird might be attempting this, and the steps you can take to encourage healthier alternatives.  

One thing that sets parrots apart from other pets is their potential to talk. If you’re wondering how to teach your bird to talk, it requires time, consistency, and a thoughtful approach. That said, there are tried-and-true steps to help increase the chances of your bird developing the gift of gab.

There’s one question every bird parent hears: “Do they talk?” In many cases, that answer is yes—parrots’ ability to mimic human sounds (or “talk”) truly sets them apart. Below are 10 of the best-talking pet birds known for their remarkable ability to mimic human speech. Just be aware that even though these parrots are notorious talkers, “the decision to speak ultimately remains with the bird itself,” says animal behavior researcher Irene Pepperberg, PhD., of The Alex Foundation, a nonprofit based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that funds parrot cognition and communication studies. Every parrot is an individual.

Bird petting, when done right, can be a great way to foster trust and make your feathered friend feel more relaxed—a win-win! Petting a bird’s feathers can simulate the way birds preen one another—grooming a flockmate’s feathers is a sign of affection and helps strengthen bonds within the flock. You can also incorporate bird petting into basic bird training sessions as a nice way to thank your feathered friend for doing a good job. Here’s what to know about how to pet birds.

Toys belong on the top-of-list essentials for pet birds. Bird toys are designed to cater to a bird’s natural behaviors, such as:   Foraging for food  Climbing along branches  Tearing apart vegetation  Navigating challenging environments that test their problem-solving skills  Knowing how wild birds spend their day makes it clear that our pet birds have an instinctive need to chew, climb, and explore, and toys offer those opportunities. ,Every bird species has a unique play personality, from parrots and macaws who love to chew to cockatoos who are complex puzzle problem-solvers. Understanding your bird’s play style helps you choose the best bird toys to keep them engaged and happy.   Fortunately, with such an abundance of toys for birds available, finding the perfect ones for your feathered companion has never been easier.