All parrots blush or flush their cheeks to convey emotions like excitement, annoyance, playfulness, stress, or fear. The blushing is temporary, with colors ranging from pale pink to deep red.
Feathers usually cover the cheeks, so we can’t always see when parrots blush. Blushing is most frequently observed in macaws and African greys, who have more bare white skin patches on their cheeks.
The younger the parrot, the more likely it is to display its emotions through facial blushing.
How Parrots Blush
Like humans and primates, parrots’ cheeks turn pink or red due to increased blood flow to the blood vessels and capillaries near the skin’s surface.
According to the Department of Applied Biology, hemoglobin is the protein molecule in parrots’ blood responsible for the red flushing colors on featherless skin.
Changes may be visible on bare white skin on the face, nape, and neck.
Scientific Proof of Blushing
To learn more about a parrot’s facial expressions, a team of researchers led by Dr. Bertin conducted a study into the facial changes of captive blue-and-yellow macaws (Ara ararauna).
Macaws were selected because their heads comprise mobile-colored feathers on the top of the crown and nape and mobile black feather lines on the cheeks. They also have patches of featherless white skin.
According to Plos One, parrots’ bare crowns, napes, and cheeks blushed routinely during favorable parts of their daily routine and while positively interacting with their owners.
The study found crown, nape, and cheek feather-ruffling were more frequent when the macaw sat still.
Similarly, crown ruffling was even more frequent when the parrots’ familiar owners actively engaged by talking to them and maintaining eye contact.
Blushing was observed in photographs taken during various interactions.
While the study was based on just 5 birds and further room exists for interpretation, the results proved that blushing is a form of emotional communication between parrots.
Other avian species, like chickens, blush in response to specific external stimuli.
What It Means When Parrots Blush
When parrots blush, they’re conveying an important message:
Excited
Parrots blushed when given attention by their bonded owners. Interestingly, the excited reaction was less commonly observed when the person turned their back and ignored the parrot.
Threatened
Blushing is a common sign that parrots feel threatened or flustered. This could be due to the presence of a stranger, the removal of a favored food or toy, or something being altered in its environment.
Playful
Parrots excited about playtime may blush. A playful parrot that blushes enjoys playing with its toys or being let out of its cage to fly around its room.
Arousal
When parrots become sexually mature, they seek an opposite-sex mate. You’ll likely observe various hormone-induced behavioral changes during the breeding season.
Parrots may blush and ruffle their feathers to attract partners or show interest. When a mate isn’t available, parrots may become attracted to their owners, which can be problematic.
Angry
Blushing can signify a parrot is annoyed or unhappy. Understanding what’s causing negative feelings is essential for avoiding issues like excessive nippiness and feather-destructive behavior (FDB).
The more a parrot blushes in your presence, the easier it’ll be to understand the hidden meaning. This is best achieved by coupling blushing with other verbal and non-verbal communication.
Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to see if parrots are blushing due to the position of their feathers. However, you can learn a lot about parrots with bald cheek patches.
