Tiki bit my husband

[GreenWing]

So, Tiki has bitten me on my cheek a few times. BUT she hasn't done it since I've eliminated the reasons/causes: I won't let her on my shoulder if I eat or drink anything, or while I'm on the phone. (However, if she's eating on my shoulder while I'm also, she's cool and unaggressive.)

When my husband and I came home from a night out, Tiki was (apparently) happy to see him, as she usually is, and flew at him, landing on his head. Not a minute passed when she, for no reason, bit him hard on the cheek. He wasn't doing anything to cause this action -- such as eating or talking on the phone, as she's done with me -- it was a bite out of nowhere.

Why would Tiki do this, suddenly bite? What can we do to understand this behavior and prevent it?

[Michael]

You said "happy." You can't truly tell when a creature is happy, however, you can notice behavior indicative of excitement. The same body language that we see for "happy"/excited is also seen for aggressive. Eyes pinning, feathers change position, etc. That is because aggression is a heightened state of excitement. You can only tell one apart from the other in context (like the bird comes to you for scratches vs to bite).

So in your case what happened was one of two things (depending on context so I can't tell you): your parrot really was happy to see your husband. In fact soooo happy that too much excitement could be expressed no other way and came off as an intentional bite of happiness. If the bird is always good around your husband and this happened once, I'd bet you this is the reason. You gotta avoid over exciting a Senegal cause then they bite. On the flip side, if relationship isn't solid or even bad, then it was totally intentional aggression. Excitement makes Senegals aggressive and aggression makes Senegals excited. It goes hand in hand when you watch them long enough.

[GreenWing]

You said "happy." You can't truly tell when a creature is happy, however, you can notice behavior indicative of excitement. The same body language that we see for "happy"/excited is also seen for aggressive. Eyes pinning, feathers change position, etc. That is because aggression is a heightened state of excitement. You can only tell one apart from the other in context (like the bird comes to you for scratches vs to bite).

So in your case what happened was one of two things (depending on context so I can't tell you): your parrot really was happy to see your husband. In fact soooo happy that too much excitement could be expressed no other way and came off as an intentional bite of happiness. If the bird is always good around your husband and this happened once, I'd bet you this is the reason. You gotta avoid over exciting a Senegal cause then they bite. On the flip side, if relationship isn't solid or even bad, then it was totally intentional aggression. Excitement makes Senegals aggressive and aggression makes Senegals excited. It goes hand in hand when you watch them long enough.

Thank you so much, Michael

You know, that's a good point, I don't really know if Tiki was "happy"... I think I'm basing that on her previous behaviors with him; how she'll fly at him and land on his shoulder when he comes home from work, etc. He adores her and they spend a lot of time together, even "sing" together. She's nipped his fingers but never bitten him on the face before. While she is arguably most bonded to me, she has bitten me and tests me constantly (but hasn't bit my face since I eliminated the other causes). Her biting him on the face -- biting hard and holding the bite -- was a first and, since it came out of nowhere, was shocking. Her being excited is definitely a possibility.

Tiki may see me as her mate. It was either the same day or the day before of the face-bite incident, that I was being affectionate with my spouse and she was in the same room, and she flew at him, almost like she wanted to stop it. She didn't bite then, though.

[Eurycerus]

Good to know this kind of stuff happens to other Senegal people! Even with a baby. Sometimes i worry because i got nika as an older parrot but it looks like they are just prone to behavior shifts.

[GreenWing]

Yes, Senegals can definitely pick fights and be bullies... even the sweet wittle babies.

To her credit, though, Tiki doesn't bite often, and for the most part I know the triggers: she hates my cell phone with a passion! The one and only time she bit hard enough to bleed me, was when I was on my phone. Never the twain shall meet, or I'll be sorry.

[Eurycerus]

Ouch! I wonder what went through Tikis head i have not figured out nikas triggers because she hasn't all out bitten me since the second day she was with me. Well i mean other than jealousy. She gets in moods and will bite but purposefully not hard enough to do serious damage. It's curious...

[GreenWing]

Ouch! I wonder what went through Tikis head i have not figured out nikas triggers because she hasn't all out bitten me since the second day she was with me. Well i mean other than jealousy. She gets in moods and will bite but purposefully not hard enough to do serious damage. It's curious...

Interesting. Is Nika protective of you?

Tiki lunges at my cell phone especially, but she has lunged at other things I have in my hand as she is on my shoulder, such as a potato, a glass bottle of essential oil, and a rubber glove. She is relaxed when I don't handle other things while she is on me.

I'm not sure what goes on in these bird's heads, but I can't help but wonder if, while on my shoulder, Tiki sees a handled object as a threat, and is either afraid, jealous, or protective? Maybe all three?