Quaker parrots are extremely intelligent, comical, and friendly birds. They’re also quite high maintenance, so not everyone can give them the attention and care they need and deserve.
Quaker parrots can become aggressive or withdrawn when they don’t receive the attention they crave and aren’t cared for properly.
However, once Quakers learn to trust and bond with the people who care for them, they’ll show their appreciation with affection and cuddles.
Are Quaker Parrots Cuddly?
Quaker parrots’ behavior toward people will depend on their upbringing and training. Their behavioral characteristics range from friendly, cuddly, affectionate, and talkative to hostile, noisy, and obnoxious.
Untrained, neglected Quakers will likely be standoffish with people and could bite or show other signs of unfriendliness if people get too close.
Quakers may also display this behavior around unfamiliar people. For instance, some Quakers who’ve been rehomed several times are never able to build a bond with any one person. This can alter their behavioral characteristics and leave them untrusting of anyone they don’t know well.
Quaker parrots that have been properly trained and raised, and given ample attention and affection, will return that warmth and friendliness to their human caregivers.
However, Quakers only like to cuddle the person or people they’ve bonded with. New owners must be patient as their bird learns to trust them and slowly creates a bond.
Human and Quaker Parrot Bond
The bond that can develop between a human and a Quaker parrot has been likened to the same kind of bond humans have with cats and dogs.
The deep companionship that can develop over time often leaves owners feeling like their Quakers are a part of their family, the same way dogs and cats often become children to their owners.
Mental and Health Benefits
According to Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Quaker parrot owners are as strongly attached to their birds as owners of other popular family pets.
They state that “Avian companions met the psychological needs of humans and provided social support or fulfilled esteem and cognitive needs.”
When owners were asked what they loved most about their birds, they mentioned a loving nature, talking ability, and companionship.
The bond people develop with Quakers helps improve their mental and physical well-being.
Extreme Loyalty
Many owners specifically enjoy the loyalty their bird shows them. Quakers can display jealousy when their owner’s attention is diverted away from them to something else.
Owners feel flattered because their Quakers are one-person birds. However, this happens when a parrot is removed from its parents before weaning, leading to over-dependency.
Possible Aggressiveness
Sometimes, Quakers will show aggression toward other people in the owner’s household or family while turning on the charm and affection for the one owner they prefer.
Some owners find it amusing that their Quaker parrot chases, attempts to nip, or is aggressive in other ways to other people.
This can become a problem when the owner doesn’t do something to encourage the Quaker to be friendly to the other household members, especially when encouraging unfriendly behavior.
It can lead to overdependency or forming a mate bond between the owner and the Quaker parrot. They should only be forming mate bonds with members of their species.
Quaker parrots can become confused and frustrated, leading to bad behaviors such as excessive screaming, feather destruction, and self-mutilation.
Healthy Bonds
When healthy bonds are formed between Quaker parrots and their caregivers, the result can be an amazing relationship full of mutual affection, cuddles, companionship, and conversation.
Are Quaker Parrots Affectionate?
While a Quaker isn’t likely to curl up in your lap while you gently stroke its head, it can be affectionate in other ways.
Wild Quakers will choose a mate and show that mate affection through:
- Playfulness.
- Focusing attention.
- Preening.
- Grooming.
- Protecting.
- Foraging.
Wild Quaker parrots are friendly and affectionate toward other members of their flock, but the sole focus of their attention is usually their mate.
Quakers in captivity will show their owners the same affection if they’re properly cared for and given adequate attention.
Ways Quaker Parrots Show Affection
Forming a bond with a Quaker parrot can be a rewarding experience. Quakers will show their affection toward you in many ways, including:
Cuddling
Quakers cuddle differently, so they may nuzzle your neck and rub their beak on your cheek. When a Quaker parrot cuddles with you this way, you have its full trust.
Kissing
A Quaker may dole out kisses to show you affection. They’ll gently peck your skin, especially around your mouth or cheeks. It may even lightly nibble you or lick you.
Call for You
A Quaker will likely develop a call that sounds like a scream or a squawk specifically for you, and it’ll use that same call sound when it wants attention.
If you don’t respond to it immediately, it may set the Quaker parrot off, causing it to get louder each time until you eventually respond.
When you hear it, respond immediately by saying something loud enough that the Quaker can hear it so that it can see that you’re nearby and safe.
Gentle Nips or Beak Movements
Quaker parrots usually nip the people they like. These nips shouldn’t be confused with biting as they won’t have much pressure and are meant only for affection.
They may also move their beaks a certain way or make sounds, such as:
- Sticking out their tongue.
- Fluttering their beak.
- Clicking their mouth.
- Grinding their beak.
- Moving their tongue around.
Endearing Noises
Quakers often make noise because they love talking to you and will do anything for attention.
You may hear a Quaker singing to you, whistling at you, or even purring like a cat. All of these are noises of endearment because it’s happy to be with you.
Jealous Biting
Biting is usually a sign of aggression in Quakers, but sometimes when it bites you, it’s because it’s showing you its love and perhaps also being territorial and jealous at the same time.
Parrots have a jealous streak when they become attached to a single caregiver.
If you’re that caregiver, when your attention isn’t focused on the bird, it may cause some jealous aggression to slip through.
If this happens only occasionally, it’s not a big deal. However, if it becomes a regular occurrence, you may need to figure out how to stop the jealousy, so the aggression doesn’t worsen.
Encourage the Quaker parrot to interact with other people in the household. Give someone else some of the daily bird-caring responsibilities so the bird can become familiar with them.
Preening
Quaker parrots use preening techniques to keep their feathers looking nice. If a Quaker preens you, it’s showing love and affection.
