Parrot dancing without human music

September 5, 2024 3:04 PM

Parrots make up excellent choreography to human music, but do they dance on their own? Do they have mating rituals that include dancing?
posted by Nancy Lebovitz to Grab Bag (2 answers total)

My budgies (who are small parrots) dance without music. They start a communal chattering groove and once they're fully into it they start riffing and bobbing, in exactly the same way I've seen larger parrots do to music. I guess larger parrots would do the same if they're in a big group with other parrots.

Bobbing heads rhythmically to another bird is a common parrot display thing when interacting with another parrot, you can actually participate in it with them. Try it next time you see a parrot. Nod and bow to them, interspersed with pointed glances. High chance they'll reciprocate.
posted by Zumbador at 10:17 PM on September 5 [3 favorites]

My cockatiel will get his groove on bobbing his head to any rhythm that intrigues him, like me typing or if I'm talking with an accidental bit of cadence. More interestingly though, he likes to make his own beat by banging his beak against things. if I tap back he loves it and we can go on for quite a while. kinda like this.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:00 PM on September 6 [3 favorites]