My Green Cheeked Conure stretches its neck. Is this normal behavior?

Thanks for reaching out. No, this is not normal. Ingested toxicities, gastrointestinal foreign bodies, crop infections, are all possibilities. A veterinary visit is recommended for diagnosis and treatment. If he has been and continues to regurgitate, he probably is not getting many nutrients. See a veterinarian tomorrow if possible. Good luck.

Hello there! This is most likely a normal stretching/preening behavior for Buddy. On the top side of the base of the tail, there is a small, oil-filled sac called the uropygial gland. When a bird grabs the base of the tail at that location, it is usually to get a small amount of that oil on the beak, and then they use it to coat the feathers. This makes the feathers more water-resistant. This could be what he is up to, but if he seems at all uncomfortable, I recommend bringing him to an avian vet for evaluation. It's unlikely that this positioning is any more than stretching and/or preening, but you know your bird best! Good luck, and I hope that little Buddy continues to thrive! He's a beautiful bird!

It would be hard to tell without an exam. Since he has show this behavior twice now, seeking out an exam from a local avian vet would be best, just to rule out any possible underlying health issues. Your vet may recommend additional testing such as bloodwork or x-rays to check for any deficiencies or obstructions that could cause the behavior. If he checks out healthy, then looking to stress as a cause is a good idea, especially if this has happened twice after the same event. It may be that he would be better with a cage-top play area instead of free roam of the house, or having his cage moved to a lesser trafficked area of the house until he is more comfortable. Helping him get used to "scary" things by offering treats, interacting, and spending time together can also help to reduce stress in the long-term.

This does not sound as if this is a "happy" behavior, but sexually mature birds will sometimes regurgitate to mates. Most conures become sexually mature after 1-2 years of age, at the earliest. Other reason for head bobbing and regurgitation behavior is illness or a foreign body in the crop. If Opal continues to regurgitate, you should seek out an avian veterinarian for an examination. If it only happens when you pet the neck, try not touching the area for a few days to see if the regurgitation behavior subsides.

Hi, if Sky is otherwise doing well, eating and defecating normally, active and alert, then I wouldn’t be concerned. Some birds sleep with their head tucked under a wing or in some other similar position. Sky’s neck is bent more in the pictures than what is typical for a parakeet, but it could just be normal for him. However, if you notice any changes or if his neck doesn’t straighten out and remains bent when not sleeping, then this would definitely not be normal and should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

It's possible her crop may have been overfull so she was adjusting it, if she is otherwise acting normal and healthy, however it is best to keep an eye on her just in case. If she continues to bring up food, has other discharge from the mouth or nose, doesn't gain weight or loses it, or begins to act ill, it would be best to have her examined by a vet to rule out issues such as crop infections, illness, etc.

These signs may be compatible with PDD (proventricular dilatation disease), which can be due to a viral infection. A check up should be performed as soon as possible to rule out this clinical condition and treat appropriately. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.