Do parrots groom their owners?

Parrots are highly intelligent and social birds that form strong bonds with their owners. As part of their social bonding behaviors, some parrots will gently preen or groom their owners’ hair, eyelashes, ears and even teeth. This article explores the question of whether parrots intentionally groom their owners and why they engage in this behavior.

Do parrots groom their owners like they groom each other?

Parrots groom each other frequently as part of their social bonding process. They use their beaks to meticulously pick through each other’s feathers, cleaning and re-aligning them. This serves the functional purpose of keeping their plumage in good condition. It also strengthens the social bond between the birds. When a parrot grooms its owner, it is displaying the same bonding behavior it would use with another bird. The gentle nibbling or manipulating of the owner’s hair or skin mimics the preening the parrot would give feathers.

So in short, yes, when a parrot grooms its owner, it is displaying the same bonding behaviors that it would use with another parrot. The grooming demonstrates the bird’s attachment and affection.

Why do parrots try to groom their owners?

Parrots groom their owners for a few reasons:

• Social bonding – As mentioned, grooming reinforces the social bond between parrots. Grooming an owner mimics the bonding a parrot shares with a mate or flock member.
• Affection – Parrots groom flock mates they are very attached to. Grooming an owner displays the parrot’s fondness and comfort with that person.
• Instinct – Grooming is an ingrained parrot behavior. The urge to pick through feathers is instinctual and parrots apply the same behaviors to human hair or skin.
• Boredom – Parrots are highly intelligent and need constant stimulation. Grooming an owner is one way to occupy themselves.
• Play – Parrots, especially young ones, may gently nibble or tweak hair as a form of play.

So in summary, parrots groom their owners to strengthen social bonds, display affection, satisfy instincts, alleviate boredom and playfully interact.

What areas of the body do parrots try to groom?

Parrots often focus their grooming attention on areas of the body with hair or protrusions that remind them of feathers:

• Hair – This includes head hair, eyebrows, facial hair, arm and leg hair. Parrots will gently nibble, tweak and manipulate hair.
• Eyelashes – Parrots try to “preen” eyelashes like they would feathers near the face.
• Lips – Lips protrude like feathers and parrots will lightly nibble or pinch them.
• Nails – Nails stick out like claws and parrots may nibble on them.
• Ears – Ears extend out from the head and invite nibbling or probing from a parrot’s beak.
• Skin tags – These skin protrusions resemble pin feathers that parrots remove from each other.

However, parrots groom many areas of exposed skin. Their beak is a sensitive tactile instrument and they enjoy finding various textures and surfaces to explore. Parrots focus on grooming locations they can easily reach with their beak.

Do parrots have a grooming preference for certain owners?

Parrots often choose to groom certain people more than others. This can be a sign of their bonding preferences:

• Primary caretaker – Parrots usually bond most strongly with the person who interacts with them most frequently and provides their basic care.
• People who pet them – Parrots groom those who regularly give them head and neck scratches, as this location is favored for grooming.
• People with textured hair or skin – Parrots are very tactile and attracted to surfaces with interesting textures to explore.
• People who positively reinforce the grooming – Owners who talk sweetly and provide treats while being groomed encourage the behavior.

Conversely, parrots typically avoid grooming people who startle them, handle them forcefully or interact with them infrequently. They groom their preferred humans as an indication of their bonding and comfort level.

Do parrots damage skin or hair when grooming owners?

For the most part, parrot grooming does not harm owners. Their beaks are delicate tools adapted for intricate manipulation of feathers. When grooming people, most parrots are very gentle and do not apply enough pressure to damage skin or pull out hair. However, there are a few situations where parrot grooming can be problematic:

• Sensitive areas like eyebrows or eyelashes could potentially get scratched or plucked out if the parrot is too rough.
• Hair entanglement is possible if longer hair gets wrapped around the parrot’s beak as it grooms.
• Existing wounds or irritated skin may become more inflamed if excessively picked at.
• Blood feathers just emerging from the skin are delicate and could get damaged by grooming.

Most owners tolerate gentle grooming from their devoted parrots. But it is wise to discourage them from focusing on sensitive spots. Provide toys and distraction if grooming becomes obsessive in one area. And never punish parrots for grooming attempts, as this will damage the bird’s trust.

How can owners encourage positive grooming behaviors from parrots?

Parrot owners can promote gentle, appropriate grooming in the following ways:

• Reward the parrot with treats and praise when it grooms briefly and softly.
• Provide a “grooming perch” where the parrot spends limited time grooming designated areas.
• Give the parrot its own toys with interesting textures to satisfy its tactile curiosity.
• Keep hair trimmed to remove dangling strands that invite excessive grooming.
• Avoid jerking away or startling the parrot if grooming becomes uncomfortable.
• Gently redirect the parrot’s beak away from sensitive spots.
• Schedule relaxing, quality time when the parrot can bond through grooming.

With patience and positive reinforcement, owners can encourage appropriate grooming from their devoted parrots as an enriching part of their social bond.

How can owners discourage problematic grooming behaviors?

While most parrot grooming is benign, owners may need to curb certain behaviors, like:

• Excessive preening of one spot that leads to damage
• Pinching or nibbling sensitive areas too hard
• Hair plucking leading to bald spots
• Obsessively pulling at hair, skin or clothing

Owners can discourage problematic grooming by:

• Providing plenty of foraging toys to distract from grooming compulsions
• Putting bitter apple spray on areas to deter excessive nibbling
• Saying “no” in a firm tone or making a sharp sound to interrupt bad behavior
• Giving the parrot a time out when it becomes too rough
• Covering up tempting areas like hair or shirt strings
• Visiting an avian vet to address compulsions stemming from boredom, stress or lack of stimulation

Stopping excessive grooming takes patience and consistency. It also requires meeting the parrot’s needs for enrichment. With effort, problematic grooming can be redirected into healthy bonding interactions.

What are the dangers of allowing parrot grooming?

While parrot grooming is generally safe when done gently, owners should be cautious allowing grooming in certain situations:

• Around the eyes – Parrots could scratch the delicate eye tissue or poke their owner in the eye.
• If the bird is agitated – Nibbling could turn to forceful biting.
• With strangers or guests – Unknown people may react badly to nips.
• Young children – Children cannot control their reaction and may startle the bird.
• When driving or operating machinery – The distraction could lead to accidents.
• If the skin is damaged – Open wounds are susceptible to infection.
• Near medical devices like CPAP machines or oxygen tanks – The equipment could be damaged.

While most grooming is harmless, owners need to set boundaries for when and where it is permitted. This keeps the parrot and owner safe.

Conclusion

Parrots demonstrate natural social bonding behaviors when they gently groom their owners’ hair, skin, lips and other body parts. This mimicry of feather preening shows the parrot accepts its human flock mate. Owners should encourage desired grooming with rewards and redirection. Problematic grooming may need deterrence but never punishment. With care, an owner can enjoy grooming as a way to interact with their devoted companion parrot.