Shaking and shivering is a common body language among African greys. They shake their body, including the head, tail, and feet. You may even observe the entire body shaking.
In some cases, shivering in African grey parrots is inconsequential. For example, the parrot is drying off after a wash or showing happiness or excitement at a bonded owner’s return.
Low temperatures can be problematic, so check the ambient room temperature. If the temperature is below 70°F, an African grey may be too cold and begin shivering.
Other explanations for shaking include fear and anxiety or consuming toxins that lead to muscular tremors. Sometimes, parrots fed an unsuitable diet may experience muscular dystrophy.
If an African grey is obese, it may struggle to support its weight, so its legs shake. A parrot may also shake its head due to a respiratory infection or a foreign object trapped in its ear or nare.
Shivering Is Normal for African Greys
Parrots rely on body language to communicate with other birds. While an African grey may frequently shiver, this doesn’t mean the behavior should be ignored.
Body Parts African Greys Shake
African grey parrots shake various body parts, including:
- Head shaking and head bobbing are usually conscious displays of displeasure or discomfort.
- Tail shaking usually means a bird is excited and happy to see its owner after an absence.
- Shaking wings frequently signifies excitement and anticipation.
- Shaking the feet signifies that a parrot is growing impatient and wants to leave its cage. Check that it doesn’t have bumblefoot (ulcerative pododermatitis).
An African grey that shakes is responding to pain, ill health, or surroundings.
African Grey Shaking vs. Shivering
An African grey parrot intentionally shaking its head, feet, or feathers differs from shivering. Shivering is involuntary because the breast muscles rapidly expand and contract to increase body heat.
Parrots shiver when cold. The optimum temperature for an African grey parrot is between 70° and 80°F. While a healthy parrot may tolerate a slightly lower temperature, check for signs a parrot is cold.
If the temperature is too low, it’ll likely fluff its feathers and tuck its head under its wings. The feathers will provide insulation, especially for unfeathered areas like the head, legs, and feet.
Shivering is common after an African grey parrot has washed, as it’ll dry itself by shaking its feathers.
How Long African Greys Shiver
Shivering should only be a short-term reaction to stimuli or an environmental factor.
Once the cause of the shivering has been identified and resolved, like drying off a parrot after getting wet, the action should cease.
If a parrot continues shivering for more than a few minutes, consider if it has an emotional or physical issue and is shaking by choice. If not, it may be unwell and need veterinary attention.
Why African Greys Shake
You’ve checked the temperature and surmised that the parrot isn’t shivering due to being cold. If so, learn what triggers shaking in African greys and determine how to proceed.
Happiness And Contentment
It’s common to find a parrot shaking its entire body and feathers when you enter a room, especially after a prolonged absence. The bird feels happy about your return, so it’s greeting you.
The shivering should subside if you approach and show it some attention.
An African grey may also shake and shiver when relaxing before sleeping for the night. This is part of its preening ritual, removing dirt and dander (feather dust) from the wings.
Anxiety
Shivering and shaking can warn you that a parrot is unsettled in its surroundings. Something may be agitating the bird and leaving it feeling uncomfortable.
Factors that can lead to fear and apprehension include:
- Loud noises, especially when sudden and unexpected.
- Unfamiliar objects in a parrot’s environment, like new toys.
- Being approached by someone the bird doesn’t trust.
- Bright colors, especially red, orange, yellow, and brilliant white.
Approaching a frightened parrot carries risk. While African greys aren’t biters, they can grow defensive. They’re large parrots with powerful beaks, so their bite force can exceed 300 PSI.
The Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine warns how feather-destructive behavior is common in African greys compared to other species. This stereotypy is related to stress and anxiety.
Sinus or Nasal Infection
An African grey that constantly shakes its head may have infected sinuses, ears, or nares. The parrot shakes its head to dislodge a foreign object or relieve discomfort.
If a parrot shows signs of respiratory distress, like streaming from the eyes or nostrils and struggling for breath, it’s struggling to retain a consistent temperature.
Trapped Foreign Objects
Use a small torch to identify foreign objects trapped in the parrot’s nares (nostrils) or ears. If it’s not too deeply embedded or sharp, you may be able to remove it with tweezers.
Parasite Infestation
Mites irritate a parrot’s skin, potentially leading to constant shivering and shaking. The parrot is attempting to remove ectoparasites from its skin.
A warning that a parrot has red mites (bird mites) is excessively shivering and shaking. Bird mites must be removed with an insecticide treatment, and the parrot’s living space deep-cleaned.
Toxicity
Shivering could be a warning that an African grey has consumed or inhaled toxins, which lead to muscular tremors. Left untreated, these tremors can lead to seizures.
Causes of toxicity in African greys include:
- Aerosol sprays, including air fresheners, cleaning materials, antiperspirants, and hairspray.
- Heavy metals like zinc and lead.
- Toxic foods and beverages, including onions, garlic, alcohol, avocado, caffeine, and chocolate.
- Unsafe plants that are consumed while outside the cage and in a backyard.
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) gas poisoning is caused by overheating non-stick cookware.
- Cigarette smoke from tobacco products.
Avian toxicosis must be dealt with urgently by a vet because it’s life-threatening.
Degenerative Muscular Weakness
African greys are long-lived, surviving for 40-60 years. As the parrot ages, it may experience muscular weakness, leading to involuntary tremors as it struggles to support its body weight.
Ensure the parrot is a healthy weight. A Timneh African grey should weigh approximately 350g, while a Congo African grey should weigh up to 550g.
Shaking and shivering are common among overweight parrots, especially if they have degenerative joint conditions like osteoarthritis.
Parrots can develop muscular dystrophy if fed a suboptimal diet. According to Free Radical Biology and Medicine, insufficient Selenium can cause nutritional muscular dystrophy.
