Does a Parrot Fluff Up When It’s Angry?

1 Why Parrots Fluff Up Their Feathers

1. Why does a parrot fluff up when angry?

When startled or angry, a parrot fluffs up to warn others away; threatened by other species, it fluffs and calls loudly to tell them to leave. Don’t approach then, or it may bite — and a parrot bite hurts.

Sometimes a sudden touch or a step on the bird startles it into fluffing — like a cat’s hair standing up, or our goosebumps when surprised.

2. Common causes of fluffing

Fluffing is a physical reaction, but a sick parrot also fluffs. Besides anger, common causes:

1. Fatigue: like stretching, a parrot shakes its feathers loose when resting; after long flight it may fluff briefly when tired, and also when preening or sleepy.

2. Parasites: external parasites like fleas and lice cause itching, leading to fluffing, feather-pulling, even hair loss; internal parasites cause diarrhea, fluffing, and poor appetite.

3. Gut discomfort: sudden diet change, spoiled food, or too many fruits and vegetables can upset the gut flora and cause diarrhea with fluffing.

4. Chill or cold: temperature swings can cause a cold with fluffing, runny nose, sneezing, low spirits, poor appetite, and stillness; the worse the illness, the more it fluffs.

In fact, long-lasting fluffing is usually a disease sign. If your parrot’s fluffing isn’t brief, watch for other symptoms like odd behavior, abnormal droppings, or poor appetite, and consult a vet if you see them.