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Why did my cockatiel suddenly act scared and then recover quickly?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Male

My cockatiel,Candace,just showed strange behavior.She was doing fine and whistling when the other bird started whistling a very old tune from about 6 years ago.All of a sudden,she stopped moving and had a perilous look on her face.I tried to move her a little bit and whistle to her but she would barely move.Her beak was slightly open and tongue was sticking it often. had a very fast heart beat.After about ten minutes she started to relax.She’s doing fine but I would like to know what Happened.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on March 4th, 2018

Honestly, that's a strange response to a different tune, however it's possible there is something underlying going on at the same time and the signs you saw were a coincidence with the song. It may also be that something startled her, causing her to respond the way she did.

If she is otherwise back to normal, i would keep an eye on her, however if the strange behavior happens again to the same stimulus, or she exhibits this behavior again on her own, scheduling a veterinary exam to look for any underlying health issues is best.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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