My favorite part of the first video begins at 0:48 and lasts about 10 seconds. I've seriously watched that specific part 10 tens in a row. posted by MaryDellamorte at 6:50 PM on February 23
Yeah I think this bird wants to be a headbanger, not an R&B bird. Get some Maiden or Priest up in there. Maybe some Motorhead. posted by spicynuts at 7:00 PM on February 23
So cute! That's a very happy little bare eyed cockatoo. posted by dammitjim at 7:01 PM on February 23
When I realized I had spent the better part of an hour watching videos of someone's dancing cockatoo, I had an epiphany.
I thought, is this what the world has come to? That someone out there not only has the time and desire to film an hour's worth of their pet bird jiggling on its perch, but were so passionate about the result they felt compelled to share it with the whole world?
Then I thought, my god, is this what my life has come to? That I would waste my time watching the videos, giggling and bouncing along? Am I that easily amused and placated?
Then I thought about all the time I've spent watching porn.
Panjandrum, life is about distractions...distractions from the really pressing thoughts about life and death and everything in between. I'd rather spend an hour laughing at videos of a dancing bird than sitting in a dark corner on the verge of a panic attack thinking about the futility of life. posted by MaryDellamorte at 8:21 PM on February 23 [3 favorites]
According to the owner, it's a he.
Well, right you are! I could have sworn I heard someone say "Good girl!" in the videos.
(It is hard to tell with parrots, though.) posted by trip and a half at 8:25 PM on February 23
Wow. He's got me beat on the dance floor...I mean, perch. Although if I tried some of those head moves, I'm pretty sure it would not be a good mating move for a homo sapiens, the ones I'm usually after. Cockatoos might find that head dancing sexy as hell, though. I wouldn't know. posted by kozad at 8:30 PM on February 23
He's totally copying my moves. The spastic jerk followed by two measures of awkward head-bopping? That's mine! posted by bokane at 9:22 PM on February 23 [4 favorites]
I'm trying to keep distracted, but this bird is totally bopping along in time with my panic attack. Damn he's good. posted by orme at 10:50 PM on February 23
Almost impossible -- most parrots don't have any outward difference between male and female, so you usually have to DNA sex them. The eclectus is one of the few that are sexually dimorphic.
Great videos. My wife will flip her lid for Frostie. posted by Pantengliopoli at 11:12 PM on February 23
Neat! I guess it's sort of like this in reverse. posted by teraflop at 11:14 PM on February 23
Um, am I the only one who noticed the owner's shadow and the occasionally hand intrude into the frame. Someone is just leading the bird to make these motions. posted by Burhanistan at 11:16 PM on February 23
And, as smart as some birds can be in terms of memory and pattern recognition, there's not much to suggest that they can discern musical time signature, let alone coordinate their movements with it. These videos are cute, but disingenuous. posted by Burhanistan at 11:26 PM on February 23
Yeah, as cute as this is the bird isn't actually dancing; he's responding to hand motions on the part of the owner. You can see it in one of the videos. He's trained to bounce around when his handlers makes various motions. Still cool, but more like those "dancing" dogs than a spontaneous reaction to the music. posted by Justinian at 12:20 AM on February 24
Yes, it's only video of a bird going through the strenuous routines expected of it by the person who fills its bowl and holds the key to its cage. Of course, that pretty much covers all professional human dancers, too. posted by pracowity at 3:33 AM on February 24
And, as smart as some birds can be in terms of memory and pattern recognition, there's not much to suggest that they can discern musical time signature, let alone coordinate their movements with it. These videos are cute, but disingenuous.
"Discern muscial time signature" would be a stretch of a description, yes, but both of my parrots (particularly the cockatoo) will dance around much like this when certain music is on. They're much more enthusiastic about it when we're dancing with them, yeah...
Your favorite dancing pet sucks, etc etc.. posted by Pantengliopoli at 7:53 AM on February 24
My very favorite cockatoo dance video from the previous thread darkstar linked sadly seems to have been removed.
This is a bird who seriously knows how to rock the fuck out. posted by quin at 11:58 AM on February 24
I emailed the videos to a friend and got this reply: "how did you come across pictures of dancing birds...?". I love you Metafilter. posted by Popular Ethics at 3:47 PM on February 24
OMG!!! That is the best thing I've seen in ages. That critter rocks with such exuberant JOY, it's amazing. It filled me with happiness. Whoo hoo. Shake-a-shake-a-shake-a-tail-featha. What a gift MaryDellamorte. So cool. Thanks. posted by nickyskye at 5:17 PM on February 24
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That guy's got more moves than me!
posted by bitteroldman at 6:35 PM on February 23