I know this is stupid but...

[Vicki5280]

How do you tell the difference between parrot regurgitation and vomiting?
(Yes, I feel like a complete dork having to ask this.)

Bucky frequently sits beside me or on my shoulder and does the gagging motion - stretching out his neck and opening his mouth wide. If he were a dog I'd kick him outside to vomit and if he were a person I'd think he needed to pop his ears. I asked the lady at the store where I bought him what he was doing, and she said they get stuff stuck in their throat and do that. OK. I've got a QP with a really sticky throat. Whatever.

Next, I read here that that behavior could be a sign of parrot <3 love <3, and lets face it, tis the season, right? Then, just now, he's sitting beside me taking a nap when he wakes up, walks around, poops, then starts his gagging thing. Nothing unusual there until all of a sudden, right there on the arm of the chair, he pops out a piece of mango from our training session an hour ago! He looked at it, leaned down and touched it with his beak, then turned around and went back to sleep. (Really?)

The sane side of me is hoping this is birdie romance. The crazy side of me hopes he's sick - cause if this is the birdie version of romance, men and birds have entirely too much in common!

Seriously though, aside from the mango incident, he's acting perfectly normal: active, talking, singing - everything as per usual. Plus, what I've read led me to understand that the parrot in love with a person would regurgitate on the person, and that's not what happened. So I need y'all to tell me what to think.

What should I think???? Sick Sick or Love Sick ?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Sounds like regurgitation to me. Scotty does almost exactly the same with me, only it's usually a bit of almond. Here's one article that addresses the difference to some extent: http://www.avianweb.com/vomiting.html

The general consensus is that regurgitating involves head bobbing and pumping motions, the food is less digested because it is coming from the crop and that vomiting is more violent , may involve head flinging and tends to result in more mess. Vomiting brings food up from the proventriculus rather than the crop.

[zazanomore]

I'm still mourning the fact that Einstein won't regurgitate for me.

But from what I've read about it, that sounds like he's just showing birdie love.

[Nevermore]

I've been watching my boy for that behaviour too...he does this gagging thing were it looks like hes going to puke something up...but nothing ever happens. He's just going through the motions.

Although; I've also been told for some birds, the 'gagging' movements also helps them compact the food in their crop so they can fit more in.

[kaylayuh]

Cheney Bird does the gagging motions, but hasnt't regurgitated thusfar. I'm not too keen on the idea of being regurgitated for, so I'm a bit happy he hasn't. If he ever does, I'm sure I'll be touched that he loves me, but it's totally not necessary.

It kind of reminds me of how cats show their love by bringing dead rodents. Except my first cat wouldn't bring dead mice. She'd bring live bunnies. Or live rats. Totally not cool.

I'd say as long as the bird appears fine and is playing and otherwise happy, you're okay and he's just trying to love you. Enjoy the ickiness.

[Vicki5280]

Parrot Love ... What a deal, huh? Poo down the back of your shirt and regurgitated mangos on the front! Despite it all, I love him too. He's my sweet baby, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

But can somebody please tell me that girl birds don't do the same thing? I'm not sure I could handle the love if JJ should happen to fall for me too!

[kaylayuh]

I'm not sure, but I would think the regurgitation would be the same for both male and female. After all, females need to regurgitate for their chicks. I would think if they were particularly fond of you, they'd try to feed you too.

[Vikki]

Yes both sexes regurgitate. And if your bird does the gagging and doesn't actually "produce", be grateful. My lovely Harlequin always does it when we are alone and its like he specifically waits to do it until after he's eaten a bowl full of food and water so its like smelly, warm oatmeal... and he usually does it all over my hands, once on top of my head... that was gross. But I still love him too.

[Vikki]

One thing that I do remember reading (though I don't remember where) was that habitual and continual regurge is bad. Said something along the lines that if your bird did it a lot and often that it can be dangerous because it depletes their vitamin intact. Not sure if this is true as I don't remember where I read that to verify the source. Anyone?

[kaylayuh]

Yes both sexes regurgitate. And if your bird does the gagging and doesn't actually "produce", be grateful. My lovely Harlequin always does it when we are alone and its like he specifically waits to do it until after he's eaten a bowl full of food and water so its like smelly, warm oatmeal... and he usually does it all over my hands, once on top of my head... that was gross. But I still love him too.

The more you guys explain what it looks, smells and feels like, the happier I am that I'm not loved enough to be regurgitated for. Though once when I was a little kid, my cousin vomitted a pack of oreos and grape kool aid on my head. I wonder if he really super loved me? lol.