What does this behavior mean ?

[sidech]

Hello,

I've had cockatiels and a Quaker, but I have never seen this behavior in them. I was petting my Brown head on his cage, he had one foot on my hand (didn't want to step up, and I didn't force him, we will be working on that) and he made this linear movement back and forth with his head (about 3-4 times successively), opening his beak once, almost like yawning but not quite.

He is only 3 months old, would this be a remaining of " feed me " movement, or something else ?

Thanks !

[Kim S]

Was he making a quick "whip whip whip" noise while doing so? He was handraised right? Im pretty sure this is a residu from the feeding ritual.

[sidech]

Was he making a quick "whip whip whip" noise while doing so? He was handraised right? Im pretty sure this is a residu from the feeding ritual.

No, there wasn't a sound made. And yes, he was handraised.