Why won't my canary sing to me, its caregiver, but sings to strangers?

Birds, just like other pets, may develop preferences towards humans. Acclimate him gradually by sitting next to his cage for ever increasing periods of time. He may flutter about and move to the far side of the cage initially but will eventually calm down. Once he does, place your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Make no attempt to touch or hold him. He'll flutter about and complain again initially. Speak softly and move slowly. Use praise and small treats after each episode. You may get to the point where Ringo will perch on a finger or sing to you, but if not, do not despair. Be patient and continue working with him. Canaries aren't "cuddly" like cockatoos or other larger birds. (I have 2 African Greys that are almost 30. I have raised both. One loves me, the other has murder in her eyes whenever I approach to clean the cage or feed her. It is what it is).

It may be a simple preference. Some pets, birds included, have their favorites. You can try to gain her trust gradually, but be prepared for rejection. Start by simply sitting by the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Progress to placing you hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Make no attempt to touch or hold her. End each session with a small reward or treat. Be patient and be consistent. If it makes you feel better, I have a parrot close to 30 years old that I have cared for since she was a chick. She will bite me any chance she gets. It's not just you.

There is truth in the phrase "Birds of a feather flock together". As long as Alfred has his flock to be with, he will likely choose them over you. Don't take it personally, it's just how some birds can be. If he is happy, enjoy his happiness. You can try spending more time with him and offering treats, but do not be discouraged if he doesn't regain that "trust" again.

Is the female coming out of the nest to feed? You can try offering food closer to her nest. Are you sure she is sitting and not ill and hiding? Try offering different foods that might be more enticing (grated carrots, alfalfa sprouts, millet, etc.) Good luck.

He may be going through a hormonal phase. At 2 years of age, he's going through his "teenage" years on his way to adulthood between 3-5 years. His behavior may be temporary and will require patience on your part. Some cage aggression may also be responsible as well. Have someone else remove him from the cage and take him to another room when you have to clean his cage or refill bowls. Speak softly and move slowly around him. Offer small treats and rewards. Do not force him step up onto your hand or interact with you. This will lead to a bite. Make sure he has a variety of toys and adequate attention from other to keep him engaged. The preferences with people will change over his lifetime. Cockatoos are quite lovable and he should eventually come back around to you as long as you are there for him.

Time, patience, and lots of treats. If you notice Curio has a favorite food, you can start by offering that favorite food only when you're interacting with him. IE, when you pet him, approach his cage, let him out, etc. This can help him to associate you with something fun/good and also make him more curious every time you come by to spend time with him. The same can also be done with toys he likes to play with. Sitting near them when he's out of the cage playing, and feeding a treat every time he comes close or shows interest in you can help teach him that you are safe to interact with and play around. If at any time Curiou becomes nervous or scared, stopping the activity and letting him calm down is best. From there, you can go back to the previous way he was OK with (IE just giving a treat from your hand but not petting) and work again from there.

It sounds like your bird may not be comfortable yet with being handled around the cage. Stress and feeling unsafe can cause a bird to lash out, and it may be that they feel you are intruding on their space or are going to harm them when you get close. Taking some time to bond while your bird is in its cage may help. If he or she has a favorite treat, begin by offering it every time you approach the cage, and only at these times. This will help your bird start to associate your arrival with good things, rather than scary. Once used to you just tossing in a treat every time you come by, you can then move on to opening the cage and offering the treat from your hand, petting your bird, etc. If they become too scared, try to bite, or seem very stressed out, move back to the previous step that worked and try again from there. Making sure the cage itself is kept in a stress-free and quiet environment where other pets, people, etc can't bother it can also help reduce stress and make the space more comfortable and relaxing. Bonding does take time, and it may take days, weeks or even months on each step to build that trust! Be patient, and try not to be discouraged if you don't see immediate changes.