Have you noticed that your bird shakes its wings from time to time or when you walk near it? Are you concerned if your bird is unwell and you are getting concerned with the behavior? If so, it’s time to look closely at why your bird is displaying such behavior and whether you are required to intervene.
Your bird will shake its wings due to the following reasons:
1. Wooing Activities
Wing shaking is a breeding behavior and can be seen in birds that have reached sexual maturity.
A bird can shake its wings as it communicates with a mate. It’s also a way of attracting a mate of the opposite gender during the mating season.
Some birds, such as doves, shake their wings as part of the mating ritual, which involves dances and a display of tail feathers.
2. Preening
Feathers keep the bird insulated and waterproofed and help it find a favorable mate. Hence, they should be maintained and well groomed to serve their purpose.
While grooming, a bird will shake its wings to stretch and release loose feathers.
3. Undergoing the Molting Process
Molting is a process whereby birds shed their older feathers and grow new ones.
Since the process is accompanied by some irritation, your bird will be exhibiting constant wing-flipping actions. This is a way of dealing with the itchiness associated with the growth of new feathers.
4. A Sign of Contentment
A bird will shake its wings to show that it is comfortable and happy in its living environment.
5. A Way of Exercising
After waking up, a bird will shake its wings to relax the muscles and improve blood circulation.
6. A Bird In Distress
Birds react to fear by shaking as they experience an adrenaline rush in their bodies. Shivering, trembling, or quivering is an indication that the bird is trying to cope with the fearful situation.
When a bird is scared of something, it will flap its wings in a quick motion.
7. Preparing to Fly
Baby birds in the fledgling stage will be observed shaking their wings as they learn how to fly. Mature birds will also display this behavior as they warm up for the flight.
8. Too-Hot Temperature
If the temperature is high, you will notice that your bird is perched with its wings slightly open and shaking. This is a way of allowing free air circulation and releasing the extra heat.
Why Is My Bird Shaking And Acting Weird?
Your bird could be shaking and acting weird as a result of the following:
1. Out of Excitement
Usually, during the breeding season, birds can be excited to find mates and bring up offspring, which can be expressed through shaking.
It’s also a sign of happiness once your bird sees you. A bird will chirp and shake to appreciate the love and care you offer. This behavior may be observed when you offer your bird new toys and treats.
2. Releasing Tension
Birds will often be involved in conflict and fight over food or perching positions. The birds will release tension through shaking and quivering. This is a sign that an argument has been settled.
3. A Sign of Hunger
Young birds that depend on their parents for provision and care can shake when they get hungry. This is a way of signaling to their parents that they are hungry and want to be fed.
4. The Bird Is Having Health Issues
Shaking or trembling can be a sign of serious health issues in birds. Continuous twitching is a sign of partial seizures. Your bird can also shake if it’s exposed to toxic material, an injury, or a viral infection.
5. Feeling Cold
Most pet birds thrive in temperatures ranging between 65-80°F; above or below these, your bird will become uncomfortable.
Your bird will shiver if the room is too cold or if it has just taken a bath. When it feels cold, its chest muscles will contract and relax to generate warmth. These chest movements will be viewed as the bird shaking.
6. Your Bird Is Feeling Hot
If the temperature is too high, the bird will shake as it tries to cool down. The bird will lift its feathers while shaking them to move air around its body.
7. Nervous and Stressed
Birds may feel stressed or fearful, causing them to shiver, twitch, or shake. A change in environment, a new pet, or a visitor can be a cause of fear and frustration for your bird.
8. Preening and Rousing
Birds love to clean and groom themselves. They will shake their feathers to remove any dirt, dry them off after bathing, or rearrange them.
While preening, a bird will be seen to first fluff its feathers before cleaning, rearranging, and polishing the feathers using its beak by applying an oily substance gathered from the bottom of the feathers.
9. A Sign of Aging or Malnourishment
As they get older, birds are likely to shake while they walk or when perched due to weakened bones.
A proper diet keeps a bird healthy and strong, whereas a poor diet will lead to weakness, and your bird is likely to tremble and shake.
Ensure that you give your bird a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and pellets.
Signs of a Sick Budgie
Budgies are hardy and rarely show any signs of sickness to avoid being preyed on. However, if you understand your bird, it is easy to tell any difference in its behavior and take immediate action.
Some of the symptoms of a sick budgie are:
1. Body weakness and sleeping all the time
2. Drooping wings
3. The bird spends time at the bottom of the cage
4. Ruffled feathers
5. Wheezing noise while breathing
6. Shaking
7. Lack of appetite
8. Runny eyes or nose
9. Coughing
10. Diarrhea.
Why Is My Budgie Trembling?
You could have come across your budgie trembling and wondered what the cause was..
Below are some of the causes of budgie trembling:
1. Due to Stress
If your bird is new and it’s trying to settle into its new home, it will tremble if you get near it, as it’s afraid of you. The budgie can also be startled by sudden loud noises from the surroundings, which it perceives as an attack.
2. Preening
Budgies get cold after a bath and are likely to tremble.
3. Preflight
Your budgie will tremble if it’s getting ready for flight. Young budgies learning to fly or those with clipped wings are the most likely to display such behavior.
4. A Sign of Illness
A budgie may tremble and become unstable on its perches when sick. You should be keen to look out for any other symptoms of illness and have your budgie checked by a veterinarian.
For instance, if a budgie is shaking and breathing heavily, it can be a sign of a respiratory illness that makes your bird struggle as it breathes.
However, it can also be a result of rigorous exercise. A proper assessment should be done to determine the root cause of the behavior.
5. Your Budgie Is Uncomfortable
A budgie can also tremble if it doesn’t feel okay in the new environment or at room temperature.
Why Is My Budgie Tail Shivering?
Your budgie’s tail may shiver due to:
1. Normal breathing after flying or exercising
2. A sign of happiness and excitement.
3. Fear and stress, if accompanied by signs of distress.
4. Part of the mating dance.
5. Display of authority to other birds.
6. Your bird is getting comfortable after preening.
7. Releasing loose feathers for the tail feathers to be well aligned.
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