DeWitt Animal Hospital: Why is Your Parrot Screaming?

By their very nature, parrots are loud and communicative creatures. You’ll see that they always seem to make noise, but it’s not until they start screaming that you tend to really take notice. Why do they do it, and what can be done to stop or reduce it? Read on to learn why parrots sometimes make such a ruckus, and what you can do to curtail the eardrum piercing behavior.

First Things First: Birds Will Always Make Noise
Before you start looking for a reason for or cure to your bird’s noise making, you must first understand that all birds are going to make noise and you will have to learn to live with at least some of it all day long if you want to have a bird as a companion.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s examine some of the reasons why birds make noise, including screaming:

Communication
Illness
Boredom or lack of exercise
Fear
Instinct or routine

Sometimes, Your Bird Just Wants to Talk to You
Just as you and your family members communicate by talking, your parrot will attempt to communicate with you through squawking, whistling or screaming.

One of the most common reasons a bird will start screaming is because they want to know where you are. In the wild, when a parrot becomes separated from its flock, it will make calls and wait for the flock to answer.

When you leave the room or otherwise move out of sight, your parrot will make noises that essentially translate to “where are you?” or “are you here?” If you don’t answer your bird or return to the room, those noises will get louder and more incessant. Soon, your bird will be screaming.

If you don’t recognize the initial contact calls and respond appropriately, it’s typically the screaming that has you rushing back into the room to see what is going on.

Other Times, Your Bird is Trying to Tell You That Something is Wrong
Just as you may groan when your stomach hurts, shout when you injury your finger or cry out when you get scared, your bird will make extra noise when something isn’t right.

Though birds typically try to hide injury or illness, you can usually tell that something is up when it starts acting out of the ordinary. When a normally quiet (or quieter) parrot starts making noise throughout the day or at unusual times, it’s a good indication that you need to check things out. It should be taken to the vet for a check-up to rule out any serious problems.

On the other hand, if a relatively calm bird suddenly causes a racket, it can mean anything from “ouch! I’m stuck” to “help, there’s an intruder!” If you’re not showing your parrot enough attention or you’re doing a poor job of providing the bird with toys and other forms of entertainment, it will let you know about its unhappiness by loudly voicing its displeasure.

Whatever the case, when a bird starts getting loud and excited, it’s trying to tell you something. Many times, it will stop as soon as you acknowledge and/or rectify the situation.

And Then There Are Times When Birds Just Want to Make Noise
Most birds are not far removed from their wild brethren, so they will retain many of the natural instincts and traits that are found in birds that live in the wilderness.

One of these characteristics is making noise in the morning and in the evening. Experts say that birds do this just to show that they are happy – they’re literally so content and excited to be alive that they scream with joy.

So What Do You Do About a Screaming Parrot?
What you should do about a screaming parrot depends on why it’s making noise to begin with. If your bird is exhibiting the above trait – where it’s just celebrating life – you shouldn’t try to curb or punish that behavior. After all, it’s just your parrot being a parrot.

However, if your bird begins screaming when you leave a room and doesn’t stop until you get back, this is definitely a behavior that you will want to modify. The best way to do this is to teach your bird that screaming isn’t necessary to get your attention.

You can accomplish this by doing exactly what your bird is trying to do with you: communicate. When you need to leave the room or the area where the parrot is, say something like, “I’ll be right back.” With time, your bird will recognize this cue and understand that it means you won’t be gone long.

If your bird starts to call out for you, don’t ignore it. Instead, let it know that you hear it. By acknowledging the parrot’s contact call and responding, you’ll show the bird that it doesn’t have to get loud to figure out where you are.

No matter the reason your parrot may be causing a commotion, hitting the bird, locking it away or screaming back are never appropriate responses. The first two actions can cause injury or behavioral problems, and the last will most certainly result in you and your bird getting into a “screaming match”.

In conclusion, the best way to quiet a screaming bird is to analyze the situation, determine why it’s making so much noise and adjust some habits. As with any habit, a new motion won’t take effect overnight.

It may take a few weeks for your bird to get used to your contact calls or for it to entertain itself by playing with new toys. However, with some patience and consistency, you can create an environment where both you and your parrot can be happy and stress-free.