Budgies make fantastic pets.

These amazing creatures are resilient, extremely easy to care for, and great fun to watch.

However, centuries of survival instincts in budgies, being birds of prey, have taught them to hide away any signs of weakness and illness.

And, so it becomes quite a challenge for budgie owners to ensure that their beloved pet is in good shape.

Pet parents of budgies often worry when they find even the slightest evidence of weakness in their pets.

Especially when budgie keepers find their budgie’s head drooping, they wonder if all is well with their feathered friend.

Well, wonder no more.

Nutritional deficiencies, ataxia, external or internal injuries, or even an ear infection can cause your winged friend to droop its head.

It isn’t a smart move to ignore such a clear sign.

However, in such circumstances, you shouldn’t lose your calm.

The best thing to do is to investigate the matter by reading your pet’s body language and looking for other associated signs of frailty.

Let’s look into the subject more deeply to understand when or why your budgie’s head is drooping.

Why Is My Budgie’s Head Drooping?

Budgie owners fret when they see their budgie’s head drooping and often lose their composure, thinking their beloved pet is sick.

However, a perfectly happy budgie will sometimes allow its head to droop.

But, such an action from a budgie occurs only rarely and only when your budgie is absolutely at ease in its environment.

If your budgie’s appetite, behavior, and body language all align with the norm, you do not need to stress.

If you see that your budgie is struggling to keep its balance, breathing heavily and down in the corner of its cage, then you need to look into the matter immediately.

Budgies suffering from respiratory infections usually forgo sitting on their perches, experience head drooping, and have a tough time breathing.

Similar symptoms become evident with an ear infection too.

Moreover, budgies troubled by infections tend to fluff up their feathers and lose their appetites as well.

Another situation where you will witness a budgie’s head drooping is when it has avian ataxia.

Birds with ataxia appear uncoordinated.

Nervous system and musculoskeletal system disorders can be the cause of ataxia.

Yet, ataxia can also result from nerve or spinal cord damage. 

Often, budgies with ataxia stand with their legs splayed for wide for balance, experience excessive lethargy and sleepiness, and find it arduous to breathe normally.

A budgie that has nutritional deficiency such as vitamin E, calcium, or selenium will also exhibit the same signs as ataxia.

Avian vets recommend that if you find your budgie’s head drooping and witness other signs of weakness, you should not try to provide your bird with home remedies and bring it straight to an avian vet. 

Why Is My Budgie Tilting Its Head?

Budgies are indeed very skilled at hiding any hint of weakness or disease.

It is also equally true that budgies are sturdy creatures and budgies thrive in safe, hygienic, and happy environments.

So, many avian experts advise that pet parents of budgies not to lose their composure at the peculiar behavior of your feathered friend. 

If you catch your budgie tilting its head, you have little cause for concern, mainly if your pet is chatty, eating right, and pooping regularly.

You see, budgies even in captivity show traits matching wild budgies.

And, budgies in the wild tilt their heads to listen to the sounds of any critters that they can munch on or watch for any predators looming above. 

In many instances, budgies even tilt their heads or lower their heads and make ‘clicking’ sounds to get the attention of their humans.

Therefore, all you need to do in such a situation is to put your budgie in a better frame of mind and spend some quality time with it.

Related article – How to take care of a budgie?

Signs Of A Budgie Dying?

There are many signals that can tell you when your budgie is unwell or dying.

Here’s a list of red flags to look for when you feel that your budgie is very sick or dying.

• Poor general appearance such as unkempt feathers
• Significant changes in eating habits or reduced appetite
• Extreme lethargy associated with excessive sleeping
• Listlessness, inactivity, and depression
• Weight loss
• Bleeding or trauma
• Drooping head, wings, and tail
• Excessive dehydration
• Fluffed up feathers throughout the day and night
• Aggression and biting
• Eye discharge, cloudy eyes, or redness around the eyes
• Swelling in any part of the body

Wrapping Up

Being a pet parent of a budgie means that you will have the privilege to be a companion of a loyal, affectionate, and highly intelligent bird.

You can be sure that your bird will bring much joy into your life.

Do remember though with privilege comes responsibility. 

So, you need to be vigilant of your budgie’s day-to-day behavior and keep a keen eye on its health and diet.

If you notice that your budgie’s head is drooping, but all is well otherwise, you should know that your bird needs cheering up.

However, suppose your bird is showing various signs of weakness along with its head drooping.

In that case, you shouldn’t waste any time and book a consultation with an avian vet promptly to ensure that your beloved pet is not suffering from an underlying illness or disease.