Birds flying to their owner’s face is a common behavior that can have several possible explanations. Generally, this is a sign that your bird sees you as part of its flock and is trying to interact or communicate with you. Understanding why your bird does this can help you respond appropriately and build a stronger bond.
Your Bird Sees You as Part of its Flock
Parrots and other pet birds form strong social bonds similar to those between members of a flock in the wild. When a bird flies to your face, it is likely seeing you as a fellow flock member and trying to get your attention, interact with you, or communicate something. Some specific reasons your bird may fly to your face include:
Seeking Affection or Playing
Birds often preen each other’s faces in the wild as a sign of affection and bonding. Your bird may similarly be trying to preen you or interact playfully with your face. This is a sign that your bird is very bonded and comfortable with you.
Feeding
Some birds may try to “feed” their owners by regurgitating food for them. They see their human as a mate or chick needing to be fed. This is a common courtship behavior in birds.
Alerting You
Birds use physical touch like pecking or flying to a flock mate’s head to get attention or alert them to something. Your bird may be trying to get your attention and alert you to its needs or something it wants you to see.
Boredom
A bird that lacks enough mental stimulation and physical activity may act out with behaviors like repeatedly flying to your face. Make sure your bird gets plenty of interactive playtime and has enough toys to keep it engaged.
Establishing Dominance or Territorial Behavior
Sometimes face-flying stems from dominant, territorial, or aggressive behavior in birds. Specific causes can include:
Hormonal or Mating Behaviors
Hormonal changes like when a bird goes into breeding condition can trigger more dominant behaviors. Your bird may see you as a potential mate and fly to your face as a sign of courting or mating interest.
Resource Guarding
Birds that fly to your face when you approach their cage, food bowl or a favored toy may be displaying territorial behavior and resource guarding. They want to make it clear that the area/item belongs to them.
Establishing Dominance
Some birds may fly to their owner’s face and bite or pull hair as a way to assert their dominance in the flock hierarchy. This is more common in large parrot species.
Stress, Fear or Lack of Trust
Less commonly, a bird flying to the face can signal fear, anxiety or a lack of trust. Some specific reasons include:
Startling the Bird
If you scare or startle your bird, it may reactively fly up towards your face. Try to avoid making sudden movements and loud noises near your bird.
Hand Feeding
Birds that are still being hand fed can sometimes fly to your face waiting to be fed when they see their food bowl. You can lessen this by sticking to a feeding schedule.
Reacting to Strangers
A bird that is not socialized or bonded with strangers may fly to its owner’s face seeking comfort if people approach it. Proper socialization can help minimize this.
How to Respond When Your Bird Flies to Your Face
How you respond when your bird flies to your face will depend on the underlying reason for the behavior:
If your bird is… | Respond by… |
---|---|
Seeking affection | Remaining calm, gently petting/preening your bird in return |
Trying to feed you | Politely declining the food, distracting with an approved treat/toy |
Bored or under-stimulated | Increasing playtime, changing toys and interacting more |
Displaying mating behaviors | Discouraging breeding behaviors, limiting petting to the head only |
Showing resource guarding | Retreating and allowing your bird calm down, using target training |
Acting territorial | Withdrawing contact, avoiding disciplining or scolding |
Reacting to startles | Moving slowly, speaking reassuringly, offering a toy/treat to distract |
Seeking comfort from strangers | Gently reassuring your bird, socializing to build confidence |
Additionally, always be sure to:
- Avoid pulling away or swatting at your bird as this can make the behavior worse by encouraging chasing
- Respond consistently so your bird learns which behaviors are encouraged and which are not
- Be patient, as re-training behaviors takes time and consistency
Training Your Bird Not to Fly to Your Face
If your bird chronically and aggressively flies to your face, training can help discourage the unwanted behavior.
Target Training
Teach your bird to touch its beak to a target stick or other object on cue. Then you can redirect your bird to touch the target when it starts flying toward your face.
Step Up Command
Train your bird to step up onto an offered hand or finger. Ask it to step up when it goes to fly at your face instead.
Positive Reinforcement
Immediately reward your bird with a treat when it responds correctly to the step up or target cue to reinforce the desired behavior.
Time Outs
Briefly placing your bird in its cage or a separate room immediately after an unwanted face-flying incident can teach it that the behavior results in loss of freedom and interaction.
Consistence and Patience
Changing any parrot behavior takes regular training sessions and consistency. Be patient, and avoid yelling or scolding your bird during the process.
Medical Causes of Face-Flying
In some cases, medical issues could underlie face-flying or other behavioral problems in birds. See an avian vet if your bird exhibits any of the following:
Symptoms of Illness
Sickness often causes increased agitation and other unusual behaviors in birds. Seek vet care for any symptoms like loss of appetite, lethargy etc.
Injuries from Flying into Walls/Cages
Traumatic brain injury or vision problems resulting from crashes during flying could lead to disorientation causing erratic flight.
Hormonal Issues
Imbalances of reproductive hormones, thyroid problems or other endocrine conditions can trigger temperament changes in birds.
Poor Nutrition
Deficiencies or excesses of nutrients like calcium, iodine, vitamin A and others may contribute to erratic behaviors.
Heavy Metal or Toxin Exposure
Exposure to heavy metals like zinc, lead or copper as well as some household toxins can cause neurological symptoms.
A vet can help diagnose and treat any medical conditions contributing to your bird’s troubling behaviors.
When to Seek Professional Help
If your bird’s face-flying behavior is:
- Putting you or itself at risk of injury
- Highly frequent or intense
- Worsening over time rather than improving
- Paired with other behavioral or medical issues
- Not responding to your training efforts
Then reaching out to an avian veterinarian or certified parrot behaviorist for guidance is recommended. They can assess if there are underlying causes and help you address the problem through tailored behavior modification plans, medication if needed, and more.
Conclusion
Birds flying to their owners faces is often a natural flock behavior but can become problematic at times. Understanding the potential reasons why your bird does this allows you to respond appropriately to discourage unwanted face-flying while still nurturing your bond.
With time, consistency and positive reinforcement, this behavior can usually be redirected. But if the problem persists or worsens, be sure to enlist input from qualified avian experts to help ensure both you and your feathered friend’s wellbeing.