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Basic Instincts: part 3

© Theresa Pascarella

Hi there, birdie buddies! In continuation of our exploration of parrot instincts, this month I will be dealing with #5 of the ten: (5. parrots will usually seek a dominant position.

So...here goes!
(5. Parrots will usually seek a dominant position.
Hey, don't worry. I am not talking handcuffs or chains here! This is still a "suitable for all audiences" column, so breath easy. The instinctual behavior involved with this has more to do with the flocking and "pecking order" instinct than anything else. The "rule of thumb" is that most pet parrots will seek to be the dominant creature in their flocks, and this aspect is all part of the maturation process of the bird.

Oh I know. Your bird is gentle, loving and looks up to you for guidance, but just wait. Sooner or later, just like teen-agers (or maybe even sooner) your little feathered child is gonna look up at you and think, "I wanna be in charge!"

Studies on parrot groups in the wild have not yielded much insight into the natual flock behavior of these birds, because daily life of wild parrots is hard to observe and document. We don't even really know if wild flocks have severe or numerous "dominance issues" in their social heirarchy. Since not much research has been done till recently, not knowing about the social structure of a flock in the wild leaves big gaps in what we ascertain on parrots' instinctual behavior.

Yet, certain things ARE known. As with all animals who live in groups, parrots have a "pecking order" and do follow and move with "lead birds." Yet, just like other "social animals," the parrot has the instinctual ambition of dominance genetically programmed in, so that, should the flock ever need leadership, the bird is ready and able to step up into that role.

Now, the importance of "pecking order" can not be overlooked. I know. I am using that term a lot. Does anyone not understand it? Pecking order is simply a birdie term for an animal's place in their social structure, i.e. where they stand in the grand scheme of things and how important they are. For example, in flocks of ground feeders, like the budgies, cockatiels and some species of cockatoos, the flocks employ "look outs" who watch for danger. These birds are of obvious importance to their flockmates and we assume that they would be the

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