Training allows you to build a better relationship with your bird.
Some people use clipping in an attempt to tame a fearful bird or to control an aggressive bird. However, as we discussed in the section on mental health, this method is not very kind to the bird. It is also not particularly effective for achieving the kind of trust-based relationship most people wish to have with their birds. Understanding behaviour and working with a bird through training will allow you to cultivate such a relationship, or modify existing behaviour, without the use of physical force or domination. It is worth mentioning that even if you are working with a clipped bird, you can (and should) still apply the science-based, positive reinforcement techniques outlined here. (For those wondering why science-based methods are important, I recommend Dr. Susan Friedman’s article “He Said, She Said, Science Says”.) There is an extensive list of training resources at the bottom of this page.
This little bird is given the choice to approach for a treat or stay where he is. If he feels threatened at any point, he is able to fly away. Before working with a bird outside of its cage, we must make sure that we are training in a bird-safe area. For very nervous birds or those unaccustomed to flying in the home, it helps to start in a smaller room once they are comfortable leaving their cage. (Check out Flight in the Home for more suggestions.) Credit: @birds_of_colours on Instagram.
Modern training techniques are based on understanding motivations for behaviour, gradually shaping behaviour, and using positive reinforcement (giving the bird something it really likes in return for doing what you want it to). Although these concepts and techniques were developed primarily by psychologists and behaviourists, they can be easily utilised by the average bird owner. Using a clicker to mark the exact moment your bird does something to earn a treat is an extremely effective way of improving communication. Target training, which usually involves teaching a bird to touch the end of a stick to earn a treat, can be used as a helpful aid in teaching a huge variety of behaviours. Before we can begin to implement these various strategies, however, it helps to have a basic understanding of the concepts behind them. I highly recommend reading behavioural consultant Pamela Clark’s “What Is Training?” and psychologist Dr. Susan Friedman’s “10 Things Your Parrot Wants You to Know about Behavior”. Even a brief look at these two articles should give you a much better idea of how it all works. Professional animal trainer Barbara Heidenreich has also created a thorough and descriptive list of bird training terminology.
This is a demonstration of teaching clicker training and target training to a bird by Barbara Heidenreich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6iRRum5lPU
In this video, Hillary Hankey of Avian Behavior International shows us how she trains a nervous bird, starting with its arrival in her home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t9M15fKhXI
This article by Dr. Susan Friedman documents her step-by-step process to teaching an untamed, pair-bonded macaw how to step up for humans and get weighed on a scale: http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/Empowering%20Parrots.pdf
This Alexandrine had a fear of hands that caused people to see her as “cage-aggressive”. Using clicker and target training, her new owners taught her to be more comfortable around hands, to step up, and to recall. Credit: @paws_claws_and_feathers on Instagram.
With the right approach, even birds exhibiting fearful or aggressive behaviours can learn to value human interaction. By carefully observing a bird’s body language, we can often avoid being bitten–certainly preferable to being bitten and teaching the bird that it is effective in getting us to go away. If we avoid being bitten and instead reward the bird for an alternative, acceptable behaviour, the bird will be more motivated to do what earns it the reward than to bite. Methods that change behaviour by motivating an animal with rewards and respecting its boundaries form a lasting rapport between animal and trainer. If a bird’s aggression is being caused or spurred on by hormones, there are changes we can make to address it. Wing-clipping is typically pursued as a shortcut–a way to restrict movement and choice without trying to understand or change behaviour. (I am aware that in some extreme cases, a partial wing-clip may be performed in conjunction with training as a means of keeping a bird in its home without being permanently confined to a cage. However, if wing-clipping were only done as conservatively as possible, reserved for extreme cases, and accompanied by an appropriate behavioural modification plan, I hardly think I would have felt compelled to create this website.)
This three-part video series from Avian Behavior International documents the step-by-step training of an aggressive macaw. Part 3 provides an explanation of how to replicate their success with your own bird: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
In this article, Dr. Susan Friedman explains how we can reduce aggression and fear through learning rather than through “parrot breaking” (using force): http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/Alternatives%20to%20Parrot%20Breaking%202002.pdf
This is an excellent article by Pamela Clark on hormonal behaviour and how to reduce hormone production: https://blogpamelaclarkonline.com/2019/08/28/a-k-a-hormonal-behavior/
Another article by Pamela Clark on how diet influences parrot behaviour, including a section on hormones: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/2346483a-32b0-4032-8070-2efb263e6a90/downloads/Diet-Linked%20Behavior%20in%20Parrots.June2018.pdf?ver=1566842308561
Each time this African grey steps up without any indication of biting, he is rewarded with a treat. Multiple repetitions in a row help reinforce the idea that stepping up results in a reward and that human hands are a safe place to be. The bird is asked to step onto the trainer’s wrist initially as it is less threatening to a sensitive bird who is afraid of hands. The trainer then gradually works from wrist to hand. Credit: @feathers.for.flight and @flightedfeathers on Instagram.
Positive reinforcement methods are not just used to resolve unwanted behaviours, either. They can also be used to teach a bird how to fly, to recall (flying to the hand when beckoned/called), to go into a travel cage/carrier, to step onto a scale, to accept veterinary exams, to do various amusing tricks, and so on and so forth. Training benefits not just us, but our birds as well; it offers them mental stimulation and the opportunity to earn their favourite things. It is a disservice to our parrots’ intelligence to give them everything they could possibly want “for free”. In fact, when given the choice, animals tend to choose working for their food over eating it freely from a bowl. (The article below lists several references to support this.)
Here is a tutorial video on flight and recall training by wingsNpaws with plenty of thoughtful explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRh2PUcTICw
This video by Barbara Heidenreich demonstrates flight and recall training: https://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2011/02/parrot-flight-training-improving-skills.html
This video by Barbara Heidenreich provides ways to increase a bird’s motivation for training treats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lquf3mPSPU0
This article by Barbara Heidenreich explains how to manage the delivery of a bird’s food to create motivation without depriving the animal of food: http://www.goodbirdinc.com/professional-articles-managing-food.html
Budgies, the most common pet bird, are often written off as too skittish and unintelligent to tame and train. However, this is simply not true. Even behaviour chains comprising multiple steps can be taught with short, fun training sessions. Check out this article on behaviour shaping by Dr. Susan Friedman.
Some people clip their birds’ wings in order to take them outside, but this is very risky. As previously discussed on my Flight in the Home section, a clipped bird can still take off and land out of sight when frightened. By training a bird to wear a harness (and securing the lead to our person), we can take them outside far more safely. There are a variety of harness styles. Many bird owners use the Aviator Bird Harness while others prefer a Leathers4Feathers custom creation or the EZ Bird Harness. Though harness training is more complex than teaching a bird to step up, it can be accomplished by implementing the same basic approach we use to train simpler behaviours. There are also bird backpacks and carriers such as those sold by Celltei which allow us to bring our birds out and about with us.
Here is a video on harness training tips by Barbara Heidenreich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etKRisR7vgo
This video on harness training by wingsNpaws offers a thorough explanation of how to make the process gradual and comfortable for the bird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rGRC3twkCw
This series of videos by Skye Elizabeth documents each step of the harness-training process with a baby bird: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
This cockatiel has been trained to wear an Aviator harness using positive reinforcement. Because she now associates the harness with going outside (something she enjoys), she is generally quite patient with having it put on. Credit: @coo_the_cockatiel on Instagram.
Training Resources
Introductory Bird Training
Barbara Heidenreich’s “A Good Start to a Good Bird” discusses how to get your bird on the right track from the beginning of its life and beyond: https://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-good-start-to-good-bird.html
Barbara Heidenreich’s “Training Baby Birds” video and article: https://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2009/12/training-baby-parrots.html
Pamela Clark’s “What Is Training?”: https://blogpamelaclarkonline.com/2018/09/12/what-is-training/
Dr. Susan Friedman’s “10 Things Your Parrot Wants You to Know about Behavior”: http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/10%20Things%20Your%20Parrots%20Want%20You%20to%20Know.pdf
Barbara Heidenreich’s list of bird training terminology: http://www.goodbirdinc.com/parrot-training-terminology.html
Five myths about parrot behaviour (and why they aren’t true) by Barbara Heidenreich: https://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2014/09/5-myths-about-parrot-behavior.html
Dr. Susan Friedman’s “Shaping New Behaviors”: http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/Shaping%20New%20Behaviors.pdf
Dr. Susan Friedman’s article on why science-based methods are important: http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/He%20Said,%20She%20Said,%20Science%20Says.pdf
General Bird Training
Pamela Clark has a wealth of information about parrot care and training on her blog: https://blogpamelaclarkonline.com/
Pamela Clark’s most popular articles on one page: https://pamelaclarkonline.com/free-resources
Lara Joseph of The Animal Behavior Center has a plethora of videos on behaviour and training available on her Youtube channel (not all are about birds, but many are, and the concepts typically translate across species): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF4CPXqVudgb0ZKhRRYf0KQ/videos
Avian Behavior International will be offering online courses on animal behaviour and training!: https://avian-behavior.org/training-services/online-courses
Educational FAQ page for parrot owners by Natural Encounters, Inc.: http://naturalencounters.com/resources/companion-parrots/
More learning and behaviour articles from Dr. Susan Friedman: http://www.behaviorworks.org/htm/articles_behavior_change.html
Check out Karen Pryor’s book Don’t Shoot the Dog for a thorough explanation of shaping behaviour with positive reinforcement: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Shoot-Dog-Teaching-Training/dp/1860542387
Motivating Your Bird
Video on motivating your parrot by Barbara Heidenreich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lquf3mPSPU0
Article on managing food to create motivation by Barbara Heidenreich: http://www.goodbirdinc.com/professional-articles-managing-food.html
Essay on the difference between food management and weight management by Barbara Heidenreich: http://www.goodbirdinc.com/pdf/Heidenreich_%20Weight%20Management.pdf
Clicker Training
“Clicker Training Your Parrot to Modify Behavior” by the Hagen Avicultural Research Institute (HARI): https://hari.ca/avian-care/behavior-training/clicker-training-parrot-modify-behavior/
Teaching clicker training and target training to a bird by Barbara Heidenreich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6iRRum5lPU
Video explaining the use of bridging signals by wingsNpaws: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi6qY472UIg
Untamed Birds/Problem Behaviours
Parrot behaviour problem FAQ by Barbara Heidenreich: http://www.goodbirdinc.com/parrot-behavior-problems.html
Q&A session on parrot behaviour problems by Barbara Heidenreich of Good Bird, Inc. (with many more training videos available on her Youtube channel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6mW-5-wc0k
Hillary Hankey training a nervous bird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t9M15fKhXI
Dr. Susan Friedman training an untamed, pair-bonded macaw: http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/Empowering%20Parrots.pdf
Step-by-step training of an aggressive macaw by Avian Behavior International: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Dr. Susan Friedman’s article on reducing aggression and fear through learning: http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/Alternatives%20to%20Parrot%20Breaking%202002.pdf
Managing Hormones
Article by Pamela Clark on hormonal behaviour and how to decrease reproductive hormones: https://blogpamelaclarkonline.com/2019/08/28/a-k-a-hormonal-behavior/
Another article by Pamela Clark on hormonal behaviour published in Good Bird Magazine (click to page 26 using the arrows at the top of the flash player to navigate to the article; if you have trouble accessing it, let me know): http://www.goodbirdmagazine.com/magazine/A1pr95/37386GoodBirdGB6v3/resources/index.htm
Pamela Clark’s “Diet-Linked Behavior in Parrots”: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/2346483a-32b0-4032-8070-2efb263e6a90/downloads/Diet-Linked%20Behavior%20in%20Parrots.June2018.pdf?ver=1566842308561
Flight/Recall Training (Indoors)
Flight training video by wingsNpaws: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRh2PUcTICw
Teaching a bird to fly by Anne Mahler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26zKU0fLALA
Barbara Heidenreich demonstrates flight and recall training: https://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2011/02/parrot-flight-training-improving-skills.html
“Flight Training for Companion Parrots” webinar by Barbara Heidenreich: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/parrotflight?fbclid=IwAR0AW_YxGPHx8mJBTNOELjED6-fShqKzkenqQ5LA5gK_8bJq-npAIC27Ls4
Barbara Heidenreich has a magazine all about bird behaviour and training. Almost all of the issues available for digital download contain an excellent article on flight training called “Learning to Fly”: http://www.goodbirdinc.com/goodbirdinc.com/parrot-store-magazine.html
Harness Training
Harness training video and article by Barbara Heidenreich: https://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2009/10/harness-training-your-parrot.html
Harness training video by wingsNpaws: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rGRC3twkCw
Video series on harness-training a baby bird by Skye Elizabeth: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
More harness training by Barbara Heidenreich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etKRisR7vgo
My Resources and Training/Behaviour Assistance
Other Behaviour Consultations
For personalised help with parrot behaviour issues, find a certified behaviour consultant near you using IAABC’s online locator tool: https://iaabc.org/consultants
Pamela Clark offers online behaviour consultations: https://pamelaclarkonline.com/
Maddy Stoneman offers online behaviour consultations:
https://www.flightedfeathers.com/book-online
Avian Behavior International offers online behaviour consultations: https://avian-behavior.org/training-services/parrot-behavior-consultations/
Lara Joseph offers online behaviour consultations: https://www.theanimalbehaviorcenter.com/online-training/
