This is a bird with purpose
August 12, 2017 2:10 AM   Subscribe

 
OK, I saw the floopy stomp but nit the beginning where he's givin' 'em the ol' razzle-dazzle.
posted by louche mustachio at 3:59 AM on August 12, 2017


I like the end where it appears that the camera person has collapsed from the cuteness. I'm still afraid of birbs, though.
posted by xyzzy at 4:16 AM on August 12, 2017


heehee heehee heehee

*rolls over, waves feet in the air*
posted by BlueHorse at 6:32 AM on August 12, 2017 [3 favorites]


If I were making a video of my bird (lovebird) having fun like that, she would promptly run over and bite me on the nose.
posted by strelitzia at 6:42 AM on August 12, 2017


Because I know somebody is going to get all up in arms about it: No, that bird does not have a neurological problem. All caiques are like that. Seriously.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:02 AM on August 12, 2017 [11 favorites]


Years ago, before the split into Eastern and Spotted, a lady asked my what kind of bird was that on her porch. I told her it was a Rufous-sided Towhee. She thought I was putting her on. No bird could have such an outlandish name.
posted by Bee'sWing at 7:13 AM on August 12, 2017 [4 favorites]


Someone seems quite content to join in with the little scheme of marching up and down the square.
posted by drlith at 7:21 AM on August 12, 2017 [7 favorites]


Birb is love. Birb is life.
posted by Splunge at 9:30 AM on August 12, 2017 [3 favorites]


It's like he _loves_ marching around, even though he's not really built for it.
posted by amtho at 9:52 AM on August 12, 2017 [2 favorites]


I told her it was a Rufous-sided Towhee. She thought I was putting her on. No bird could have such an outlandish name.
posted by Bee'sWing

The sound of little birdie feet
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee


I've got my eye on you two.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:59 AM on August 12, 2017 [4 favorites]




Looks like goose stepping to me.
posted by radwolf76 at 3:32 PM on August 12, 2017


I remember that paper towel bird. Now he seems less strange.

It's not easy to make goose stepping cute.
posted by Bee'sWing at 4:26 PM on August 12, 2017 [1 favorite]


It was nicely Meme'd
posted by CheapB at 6:07 PM on August 12, 2017 [1 favorite]


Ya know, whenever I see cute videos of parrots or cockatoos or cockatiels playing, I never see them fly. Are pet birds like that just not inclined to fly much? Or are they unable to for some reason?
posted by rifflesby at 10:58 PM on August 12, 2017


Rifflesby, many bird owners do a wing clip or modified wing clip to keep their birds safe--unclipped birds have been known to fly into windows and/or out of barely-open doors, so owners clip a few flight feathers. This does not hurt the birds, who can fly just well enough to avoid a cat or land well if startled. It is a controversial practice as it limits the birds' ability to exercise.

My Senegal is presently fully flighted and is quite nimble in the air. We have drills and practice, and play hide-and-go-seek where she must fly to find me. It's good for her but can sometimes cause hormonal behavior--nest-building and aggression. And it means constant worry over open windows and doors.

I cannot speak for all bird owners. The lack of flight videos may in part be due to the difficulty in actually filming the birds flying, which would take lots of light indoors to capture well.
posted by kinnakeet at 4:46 AM on August 13, 2017 [3 favorites]


Also, rven fully-flighted birds don't fly that often (with some exceptions). It uses a huge amount of energy, so in the wild they mostly do it when necessary to evade predators or switch up their foraging locations. Smaller birds (like kinnakeet's Senegal) have an easier time getting airborne, so they do it more often, which is ok because it's also easier to provide them with a safe area to fly in. My partner and I have medium parrots, an Amazon and an Eclectus, who would have a very difficult time flying safely anywhere other than an outdoor flight cage. (And the Amazon is super hormonal as it is. She'd be mating with my head 24/7 if she had her flight feathers. XD)
posted by tobascodagama at 6:08 AM on August 13, 2017 [2 favorites]


Rufous-headed Towhee heehee

Eponistarical. Well done.
posted by humboldt32 at 9:15 AM on August 13, 2017 [1 favorite]


When I had an African Grey I would hold his feet and flap him (move him up and down, causing him to beat his wings) every morning and when I took him outdoors. I also encouraged him to fly from the bedroom door to the bed. His wings were clipped.

It should also be noted that parrots are 100% capable of extreme whimsy and conscious acts of humor.
posted by grumpybear69 at 5:21 PM on August 13, 2017 [2 favorites]


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