Parrots are funny creatures that make good use of their bodies to communicate with us.
You might see your parrot rolling over and wonder – Why does my parrot roll over?
The answer to this is..
As a general rule, when a parrot rolls over to show its stomach, it is in a vulnerable position.
If your parrot does this in front of you, this means that they are comfortable with you.
This is just one of their many ways of letting you know that they are happy.
How cute is that!
In this article we’re going to go into more detail and discuss the following
- Why do parrots roll on their backs?
- How do you know if your parrot is happy?
So if you’re interested in discovering all about your parrots body language then you’re going to love this article
Sound good?
Let’s get started!
Why Do Parrots Roll On Their Backs? Is This Normal?
It might be disconcerting to walk into a room and find your parrot rolling over and laying on its back.
But take a couple steps closer and you’ll notice that it’s simply a very relaxed bird.
It is totally normal to see a parrot roll on its back – this may be more common in some parrot species than others.
When you see a bird rolling over on its back, it exposes its belly which is a very vulnerable position.
This means that your bird is feeling very safe and secure.
Especially if your bird does this when you are in the room with it, it is nice to know that your bird feels fully comfortable with you.
Your parrot might also roll over in this way when it’s time for cuddles.
It can be your pet’s way of letting you know that it wants its tummy or feet tickled.
Your parrot may also roll on its back when it is feeling particularly playful.
While you are play-fighting with your parrot, it might roll over on its back as it is having fun with you.
Much like jumping, birds also show their tummies and roll over and over to display their joy.
How Do I Know If My Parrot Is Happy?
It can be more difficult to decipher your parrot’s emotions than it is a dog’s.
But if you study your parrot’s body language and behavior, you can learn to understand your bird and all of its emotions – including happiness.
Parrots express happiness in many different ways:
Through their body language
Their voices
Their eyes
And their behavior.
The parrot’s body language is a key way to see if your parrot is happy.
The most obvious way your parrot will convey happiness is by bobbing up and down or dancing.
Dancing is a natural way to see if your parrot is happy as it will dance along to a beat of a song.
Parrots will often wag their tails as well to communicate happiness.
Your parrot might do this when it is happy to see you, when they’re doing something fun, or when they’re in a good mood.
Parrots also use their wings to show emotion.
When happy, a parrot will flap their wings.
Wing flapping is a bit more difficult to decipher as it can mean anger or pain as well.
But if your parrot flaps its wings and accompanies it with a head bob or a cute little chatter, take it as a happy sign.
The parrot’s vocal communications show you when your parrot is happy as well.
Have you ever heard your bird talk, sing, or even whistle?
All of these sounds are happy bird sounds.
Not to worry if you have a particularly shy bird that doesn’t make as much noise in general.
This doesn’t necessarily mean your parrot is upset.
Some birds are simply more vocal than others.
Whether it is soft or loud, a bit of noise from your parrot such as soft chattering or purring means you have a very content bird on your hands.
Check out my article – My new parrot is very quiet
The eyes are the key for expressions in parrots just like humans.
Unlike humans, however, the parrot can control its irises – it can enlarge and shrink them at will.
This is called “pinning” or “flashing”.
How they move their eyes depends on their emotional state.
To get the best gauge on what your parrot’s eyes are saying, you should use a combination of body language or vocalizations to figure out if it is happy or feeling something else.
Once you get to know your bird a bit more, you’ll be able to take one look at your bird’s eyes and know exactly how it is feeling.
A final way to know if your parrot is happy or not is through your parrot’s behavior.
The way that your parrot interacts with you is paramount in assessing its mood and happiness.
A happy bird will be playful and will keep itself entertained.
It will also engage with their surroundings and respond to you.
Happy birds that are bonded to you will ask for your attention and want to play with you.
So it is very important to spend time with your parrot
Take out some time during the day and let this time be just for you and your parrot
Talk to you parrot, let him sit on shoulder, you could even let your parrot eat with you
This article will help you keep your parrot entertained – How to keep parrots entertained
Final Words
Your parrot considers you to be a part of its flock, so it tries very hard to communicate with you and interact with you.
Parrots can even mimic human words as a means of communicating with their favorite person.
They also use their bodies as a communication tool.
They might roll over, flap their wings, or bob up and down to show you how happy they are.
As its owner, you will also be able to tell whether your parrot is happy or not by paying attention to their vocalizations, eyes, and their behavior.
It’s quite amazing what sort of emotions these intelligent birds can convey.
Just make sure you show the same love and affection back
That way they will be happy and a happy parrot is a healthy parrot!
Here’s some interesting articles about parrot behavior you may enjoy reading about!
