Why Is My Cockatiel Shaking? (8 Reasons)
Looking over to see that your cockatiel is shaking can be a confusing sight.
It can prompt thoughts like:
“Why is my cockatiel shaking?”
“Are they cold?”
“Are they sick?”
When seeing new and odd behaviours, it would be weird not to ask these things.
I’m here today to help clear up your confusion around this behaviour.
Below are 8 possible reasons why your cockatiel is shivering.
Additionally, you’ll also learn:
- Why cockatiels shake their heads
- Why cockatiels shake their tail feathers
But first, what are those 8 potential reasons for body shivering?
Why Is Your Cockatiel Shivering? (8 Possible Reasons)
Just so we’re clear on the behaviour being discussed, it’s when your cockatiel’s body is shivering, similar to how we humans tremble when we’re cold. This isn’t to be confused with when cockatiels shake and fluff up their feathers, that’s normal behaviour.
This is what a shivering cockatiel looks like:
So why do they do this?
Here are 8 possibilities…
1. Your Cockatiel Is Cold
A common reason why cockatiels gets the shivers is because they’re cold.
Just like us humans, cockatiels will involuntarily shiver to help produce more body warmth when they’re cold. It’s just their body’s natural response to being cold and they can’t control it, so it’s automatic shaking. (Lafeber)
2. They Just Bathed
If your cockatiel just bathed, it’s normal for them to shiver a little. (Lafeber)
Even if they just bathed in warm water, they’ll get a bit chilly from the air going through their wet skin and feathers. My cockatiel loves to really soak himself in his plate bathes and he always comes out shivering, so it’s normal.
Try to keep your cockatiel warm after baths to prevent them from catching a chill.
3. Your Cockatiel Is Excited
According to Lafeber, some birds appear to shiver when they’re excited!
I personally haven’t seen this with my cockatiel, but I trust Lafeber. If your cockatiel seems to shiver around you, they might be excited in your presence. Same goes if they shiver around a new or favourite toy.
Definitely consider excitement as a possible reason for shaking.
4. They’re Just Sleepy 😴
Cockatiels will often shiver when they’re tired and about to sleep. (PetKeen)
This will look like the video shown above, except they’ll likely have one foot raised and their heads buried in their wings. I see my cockatiel shivering every night before he goes to bed, so there’s no need to worry if this happens before sleeping time.
5. Your Cockatiel Is Scared/Fearful
Similar to a classic Scooby-Doo character, cockatiels will shiver when scared.
It’s totally normal for a cockatiel to shake after they’ve been startled or when they’re fearful of something. A newly adopted cockatiel will likely shiver a lot as they’re in a scary new environment with new people and new objects.
6. Stress
Stress can also cause a cockatiel to shiver. (PetKeen)
Stress and fear are almost similar in birds as whatever stresses them out normally scares them as well.
If you’re trying to force scratches or food onto your bird, this could stress them out, resulting in shivering. Any other annoying thing you can think of will likely cause a bit of stress or fear, which can again result in shaking.
7. Nervousness, Mistrust, & Uncertainty
According to mickaboo, birds that are feeling nervous, uncertain, or distrustful are likely to shiver.
These feelings are common with cockatiels who have been recently adopted. They’re nervous and uncertain about their new environment and often very distrustful towards new people. It’s also common in birds who have been through human-caused trauma.
8. Your Cockatiel Is Feeling Sick
Unfortunately, shivering can also indicate sickness in your cockatiel. (PetKeen)
If you don’t believe your cockatiel’s shaking is caused by the other 7 reasons, it might be worth taking them in for a vet visit. If they’re sick, they’ll often show other signs along with shivering, such as lethargy, loss of balance, and sitting at the bottom of the cage.
Related: Cockatiel Signs Of Sickness You Must Be Aware Of
Why Cockatiels Shake Their Heads
We’ve covered the 8 reasons for body quivering, now let’s discuss why cockatiels shake their heads…
The way cockatiels shake their heads looks similar to how a wet dog shakes off water, which is a quick jolting motion of the head.
Look at the quick head shakes these cockatiels display:
There are 2 possible reasons for this behaviour:
- They like the sound they’re hearing
- They dislike the sound they’re hearing (CockatielCottage)
These two reasons are in response to sounds, like whistles of certain frequencies, but there are other reasons why cockatiels do this that aren’t responses to sounds:
- Having a feather in their face – They shake their heads to get rid of the feather.
- Flicking food off their face – After eating wet foods, many birds will shake their heads to flick off the mess.
- They just had a drink – Shortly after my cockatiel has a drink, he’ll shake his head and flick water off his beak.
- After yawing or crop clearing – Cockatiels will jolt their heads after yawning or adjusting their crops.
Why Do Cockatiels Shake Their Tail Feathers?
You shouldn’t worry when you see your cockatiel shaking its tail feathers as it doesn’t indicate anything bad.
Cockatiels will shake their tail feathers for two main reasons:
- To release tension after preening (Lafeber)
- To indicate that they’re happy or content (WikiHow)
Tail feather shaking side to side is normal cockatiel behaviour, so there’s no need to worry!
But this isn’t to be confused with tail bobbing, an up-and-down motion of the tail feathers, which can indicate a problem.
Thank you for reading!
Up next: Cockatiel Care 101: The Ultimate Care Guide For Beginners
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