Birds make a variety of sounds to communicate different messages. When a bird is in pain or distress, the sounds it makes can be quite different from its normal vocalizations. Understanding bird vocalizations and being able to recognize signs of pain or distress can help bird owners and bird watchers ensure the wellbeing of our feathered friends.
Why Do Birds Vocalize?
Birds have a wide repertoire of vocalizations that they use to communicate different messages. Some common reasons birds vocalize include:
- Territorial signals – Birds use song to establish and defend their territories. Loud, repetitive song helps deter intruders and attract mates.
- Alarm calls – Special calls warn other birds of danger from predators or disturbances.
- Flock communication – Many species use contact calls to maintain communication and cohesion within a flock, especially when flying.
- Begging calls – Nestlings and fledglings produce loud, raspy calls to beg for food from parents.
- Courtship displays – Elaborate songs and calls are used to attract mates.
- Expression of emotions – Birds can communicate basic emotions like contentment, fear, frustration, pain, etc through sound.
Understanding the context and purpose of avian vocalizations provides insight into birds’ intelligence and emotional lives. It also allows us to better interpret their communication and monitor signs of health or behavioral issues.
How Do Birds Communicate Pain or Distress?
When injured, ill or distressed, birds may produce calls and sounds that are quite different from their normal vocalizations. Some common signs that a bird is vocalizing pain or distress include:
- High-pitched, piercing screams – Birds often produce loud, high-pitched alarm or distress calls when frightened, threatened or injured. These screams communicate acute pain, fear and stress.
- Soft chirps or whimpers – Chirping, whining or whimpering softly can indicate weakness, fatigue, chronic pain or nausea in birds. This differs from loud squawking or screaming.
- Heavy, labored breathing – Birds struggling for breath due to illness or injury may produce wheezing, raspy, open-beak breathing sounds.
- Grinding beak – Some birds grind their beak or produce popping sounds as an indicator of pain or nausea.
- Loss of vocalization – Extreme weakness, illness or exhaustion can cause an unusually silent bird that is not singing or calling at all.
- Repetitive squawks – Repeated agitated vocalizations and contact calls can communicate anxiety, irritation or distress over injury, illness or environment.
Subtle changes like reduced singing, raspy chirping or heavy breathing can sometimes be the only audible clue that a bird is unwell and in need of medical care. That’s why it pays to be very familiar with your bird’s normal vocalizations, activity levels and behaviors when healthy.
Common Bird Vocalizations that Signal Pain or Distress
Different bird species have characteristic pain and distress vocalizations based on their anatomy. Here are some examples for common pet and wild bird species:
Parrots
- Screaming or shrieking loudly
- Making low-volume contact calls and chirps
- Grinding beak
Finches and Canaries
- High-pitched squawking
- Raspy, rapid breathing sounds
- Soft, weak chirping
Budgerigars
- Shrill, distressed squawking
- Rhythmic or clicking beak grinding
- Whimpering or soft chirping
Cockatiels
- Harsh, screeching alarm calls
- Low-volume contact calls
- Heavy breathing or tail bobbing
Pigeons
- Loud cooing
- Raspy grunting
- Whimpering young
Chickens
- Loud, distressed clucking and squawking
- Pained screeching or squealing
- Rapid, open-beak breathing
Paying attention to subtle vocalization changes or new sounds in your bird can help alert you to health issues requiring veterinary attention. Always consult an avian vet if your bird shows persistent signs of distress or pain through its vocalizations.
What Causes Birds to Vocalize Pain or Distress?
There are many potential causes for painful or distressed vocalizations in birds. Common reasons include:
- Injury – Broken bones, wounds, concussions and other physical injuries understandably cause pain and distress.
- Illnesses – Diseases can generate discomfort, nausea and weakness. Metabolic bone disease causes severe pain.
- Parasites – Internal or external parasites irritate birds and make them vocalize discomfort.
- Predators – Nearby predators like cats, snakes or hawks generate fear vocalizations.
- Loss of partner – The distress of a lost mate or flock separation causes sad, agitated vocalizing.
- Handling – Unfamiliar handling by humans can frighten birds, evoking loud alarm calls.
- New environment – Being moved to a new, unfamiliar location is hugely stressful and disturbing for birds.
Listen for pained or distressed bird vocalizations that are loud, shrill, weak, hoarse, repetitive or abnormal. Also watch for lethargy, weakness, labored breathing, loss of appetite or self-mutilation along with the sound changes.
What to Do If Your Bird Vocalizes Pain
If your bird is making distressed sounds or its calls suddenly change, don’t ignore it. Here are important steps to help a bird in pain or distress:
- Remove obvious sources of stress or irritation from the bird’s environment.
- Provide warmth, quiet and darkness to help calm the bird.
- Avoid handling the bird excessively until it stabilizes.
- Consult an avian veterinarian for care – birds often mask illness until it’s advanced.
- Give medications and supportive care as prescribed by your vet.
- Monitor for changes in droppings, appetite, activity level and vocalizations.
- Keep the bird isolated if recommended during recovery.
With attentive care guided by an avian vet, many birds can recover well from injuries and illnesses that initially caused them to vocalize pain. Their voices can return to normal as their health improves.
Conclusion
Birds have a wide range of vocalizations they use to communicate different needs and emotions. Unfamiliar, loud screeching or squawking often signals a bird is frightened, threatened or in pain. Soft, weak chirps, heavy breathing and grinding beaks can also indicate discomfort or illness. Understanding bird vocalization patterns helps bird owners detect signs of distress and disease early on. With attentive care and support from an avian vet, painful conditions can often be successfully treated in birds based on changes in their unique voices.
