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Birds--General/lutino male cockatiel has mixed reactions to his partner.

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Expert: - 12/6/2011


Question
i got my cockatiels a month ago and the first female died so i got another female cockatiel of roughly the same age.
the male had bonded with the female who died.now he acts all weird with the new one.initially he was very rude but with time he started bending his head and placing it on the females chest and she used to hit him on the head and shoo him off.
of lately only after i cover them in the night to sleep the male and the female hit eachother with open beaks and the male flew over and sat on the female foe a sec or two.
is this normal?

Answer
Sounds normal to me. The two birds are just getting used to each other. Just like people. We (people) react differently to almost everyone we meet, and birds do the same. As long as they are not harming each other, all is well. If the male sat on the female, he might be trying to mate with her.

Birds--General

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all questions about WILD birds - not caged, domestic or poultry. Can answer questions about identification, taxonomy, behavior, courtship, plumage, flight, or anything else.

Experience

Taught ornithology (the study of birds) at the university level for 30 years. Have written five books on birds, published 30 scientific articles, write a blog on birds, have the website www.ornithology.com, lectured to hundreds of groups on birds,and have traveled to 90 countries studying birds.

Organizations
A variety of ornithological and conservation organizations.

Publications
Real Simple Magazine, Enterprise-Record, and several ornithological and ecological journals.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology with emphasis in ornithology.

Awards and Honors
Professional Achievement Award, Jack Rawlins Chair of Environmental Literach.

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