Mechanically produced sounds

Many parrots of different species (including grey parrots) often repetitively knock their bills on surfaces, usually during courtship. Besides, beak clicking is a sharp "clicking" sound used when a bird is feeling threatened or is defending its territory. It also seems to contribute to maintain the pair-bond.

Agonistic behaviour

Agonistic behaviour consists of threats, attacks, arousal, appeasement and flight. Serious fights and injuries are quite seldom seen among parrots. The application of a social hierarchy and a precise body language are useful to limit serious acts of aggression between members of a flock. However, threat, attack and appeasement gestures happen increasingly during the rearing of the chicks and the mating season (Weinhold, 1998; Lantermann, 1999).

Hierarchy Woppel studied the social structure and the rank order of 13 grey parrots kept in an aviary. She discovered that African grey parrots have a non-linear dominance hierarchy, like the one found in keas (Nestor notabilis), primates and many female ungulates. That non-linear system includes dominance interactions that are often circular and entangled in very complex ways. Male African grey parrots are not only more aggressive than females, but also have a higher position in the hierarchy.

Threats basically take place from socially higher ranked parrots and between parrots that differ a lot in their hierarchy position. The defence of the territory in the case of grey parrots is less intensive and developed than in amazons. Aggressive behaviour with physical contact mainly happens within a couple and between members of the flock that have a similar social status. Under certain circumstances, monomorphic parrot species (such as African grey parrots) might recognize the sex of other members of the flock only thanks to their level of aggressiveness.

Threats and attacks

Threat: plumage puffed out, wings raised and spread slightly, staring look with eyes pinning and tail fanning. Arousal (strutting and posturing) is very similar or even identical to the weakest form of threat.

Beak wrestling: the parrots try to grab and strike each other's beak, head or shoulder. This behaviour is preceded by a long-lasting posture with the beak remaining wide open.

Aggressive stance: parrots stretch their bowed heads, puff out their plumage (extreme in grey parrots, that look like a "feather-ball") and stay in that position.

Aggressive walk (lunge): parrots run towards their adversaries with their neck feathers puffed out, swaying with their heads bowed, then they push their rivals with their beaks closed, usually supplanting their adversaries. Though the aggressive walk was first described concerning amazons, grey parrots seem to display similar behaviour. Parrots can also supplant their adversaries by flying in their direction, showing their intention to perch where the attacked bird is standing.

Grapple fights: these are the highest degree of aggression and happen very rarely and always between birds that do not know each other. That behaviour might be enhanced by captivity in small cages.

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