Have you ever looked into your cockatiel’s cage and noticed that they’re yawning? It seems like when they’re around you or other cockatiels, they do it all the time. So why do cockatiels yawn all the time? I did some research, and here is what I found out!
Cockatiels typically yawn because they’re either stressed out, exhausted, or very relaxed. Sometimes cockatiels also yawn because they want to prove their dominance or are irritated about something or angry with someone.
Yawning is a regular aspect of your cockatiel’s life that you should be aware of. It is one of their ways of expressing their emotions.
In this article, we’ll discuss the details of yawning in our cockatiels. This will help you better understand the behavior of your birds!
Is It Normal For Cockatiels To Yawn?
It is entirely normal for cockatiels to yawn. Cockatiels tend to express several emotions, which are entirely acceptable and normal.
Your cockatiel might yawn for several reasons, including stress, relaxation, exhaustion, or irritation.
Therefore, it can be challenging to determine the reason behind the same.
Why Does My Cockatiel Yawn?
Cockatiels have a lot of different behaviors that can seem slightly confusing sometimes, and yawning is one of them.
A cockatiel’s yawning can be confusing because it can mean multiple things in different situations.
Your Cockatiel Is Tired
Yawning is a perfectly natural bodily response – we all yawn, especially after a long day of work or when we’re tired.
And just like us humans, cockatiels yawn when they get tired and are incredibly fatigued.
It’s not difficult to spot if they’re tired because your cockatiel will typically lay down after yawning to rest.
If you see your cockatiel yawning and then laying down, give your bird some space and let it have a little snooze.
Also, you’ll notice your cockatiel yawning and laying down in the open more frequently once they’ve gotten used to their environment – and trust you a lot more.
Your Cockatiel Is Irritated
When angry, a cockatiel might express itself with a yawn – a furious-looking yawn. The yawn is typically directed at other birds that it doesn’t get along with very well or that are invading its personal space.
A yawn like this is a way of communicating and trying to scare off the other birds of the cage.
When more than two cockatiels are housed together, it might yawn in anger if one of them gets too close or bothers it.
This is way your cockatiel is telling you to back off.
Your Cockatiel Is Very Relaxed
An excellent way to tell that a cockatiel is feeling relaxed is by a huge yawn. If you don’t see any signs of stress (and they’re quiet), you can tell your bird is happy and content.
A relaxed yawn could also indicate that they’re at ease among many other cockatiels and you – there won’t be any signs of stress and violence.
Listed below are a few ways by which you can relax your bird:
- provide your bird with a balanced diet
- make sure that they have a clean, and comfy cage
- there’s have plenty of hiding spaces to play in
- they’re housed in a large cage
- you provide enrichment activities and entertainment
Another tip is to spend lots of time with your little bird, so that they get used to you. That way, when you do want to hold your cockatiel, they won’t be as skittish.
Your Cockatiel Is Afraid Or Stressed Out
Fear is yet another factor that can make your cockatiels yawn.
Cockatiels are prey animals. They do not enjoy the company of other animals such as cats, dogs, or even other birds.
It is important for you to make sure that your cockatiel have a secure and a safe cage. Always reach out to they if they make loud screaches as it can be a signal for some unforseen threat.
Some other factors that lead to your cockatiel’s yawning are loud sounds of music player, lightning, etc.
Sometimes stress can lead to life-threatening situations for our cockatiels. Thus, make sure you are around to comfort them when they need you the most.
Your Cockatiel Is Showing Aggression
When a cockatiel starts to show aggression towards another cockatiel, it might begin to yawn.
This behavior is usually seen when you introduce a new cockatiel in a cage of your existing cockatiels.
Sometimes, cockatiels also tend to yawn while arguing with one another.
The arguing can be over their food bowl, sleeping arrangements, or when they get mad at each other.
However, if a cockatiel is yawning to show aggression, it can sometimes lead to fighting.
If it leads to fighting, they’ll have to be separated for a while and reintroduced slowly.
Why Is My Cockatiel Yawning And Shaking His Head?
If your cockatiel continuously yawns and shakes its head, it might signify a problem.
Most cockatiels do so when something is stuck in their throat. If your cockatiel does so, I advise you to take your bird to a vet immediately.
The vet will examine your bird and provide you with the best possible solution.
Why Does My Cockatiel Yawn When I Pet Him?
Your cockatiel might yawn when you pet them because they feel very relaxed.
Therefore, if your cockatiel trusts and feels comfortable around you, it might yawn.
Your cockatiel yawning in front of you is a good sign that it feels relaxed and secure enough in its general surroundings.
This generally happens if you have housed your bird in your home for a considerable time. This behavior usually indicates that your bird is comfortable in its living space.
Your bird feels so secure with you that it’ll relax enough to be able to yawn, so if that happens, then you’re doing an excellent job as its owner.
Should You Be Concerned If Your Cockatiel Is Yawning?
Sometimes it can be worrying about finding your bird yawning. You might think something is wrong with your cockatiel, but that’s usually not the case.
On the other hand, yawning can be a matter of concern if it comes with other health signs like usually acting or eating less.
If there is something seriously wrong with your bird, then the best thing for you is to take your cockatiel to the vet to be physically examined.
However, you should not be too concerned if your cockatiels are yawing at each other. This happens when they are trying to establish dominance.
However, if your cockatiel’s yawing leads to aggressive fights, then that’s the time to separate your birds.
Final Thoughts
Yawning is a typical bird behavior that can have multiple causes.
In most circumstances, yawning is not something that you need to be concerned about. It’s usually not directly correlated with any type of medical issue and is considered more of social or behavioral action.
You can better understand your little bird companion by understanding the information we discussed above.
