My co*ckatiel is obsessed with mirrors

Question:

April 3, 2023

Answer:

Hi Nikki,

Mirrors aren’t bad for birds, many birds do just fine with mirrors. But when a bird gets obsessed with mirrors, you have two choices. Leave him with his mirrors and those are his companions, or remove the mirrors and he will eventually adjust. The mirrors may have nothing to do with his behavior towards other birds. In the wild, they choose their own mates. They do not always like the mates we choose. A lot of times one bird likes the other, but the other doesn’t reciprocate. So it’s possible that he just isn’t compatible with that female even though she likes him. As for breeding, both birds need to be at least two years old. So if she is younger than this, it is another reason why he wouldn’t have interest in her.

You need to start by removing the mirrors. Do not cover the cage if he screams. He isn’t screaming to annoy you, he is calling for the other bird, in this case the one in the mirror. Birds do not learn from punishment or negative reinforcement. You need to ignore the unwanted behavior and reward good behavior. He will get better, as long as you are consistent with him. When he is quiet, give him some treats and kind words. When he is too loud, ignore him and go to another room. Any time you give in and yell back, or cover his cage, or give him any type of attention for being loud, you have undone any progress you have made towards training him not to be loud all the time. If you give in and give him a mirror, then you may as well give up and just let him be with his mirrors. He can learn to not be so loud, and not have mirrors, but you are part of this.

As for the female, keep her cage next to his. Without his mirrors, he may start to come around and show interest in her. If he doesn’t change his behavior towards her over time, then they probably aren’t compatible. Hopefully you understand that you can’t breed birds like a dog or cat. For birds to breed, they have to be compatible as a pair. They form a bond and this can take weeks or months or even years. Usually a pair will bond within a year, if they are going to, and after that they should show signs of wanting to breed, such as sitting together all the time, feeding each other and finally mating. The pair can never be separated once they are bonded as a pair. They mate for life – which means until one or the other dies. It’s not a case where you put them together, they mate and then you separate them. It’s a long process, and both birds care for the eggs and chicks. It is an expensive hobby that often results in nothing. So you need to be very dedicated as well as prepared to suffer some losses or maybe never end up with chicks. But most importantly right now is to work on his behavior and keep the mirrors away from him. I would recommend watching this recent webinar to help you understand more about their behavior and how to work with a bird.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda

FAQs

My co*ckatiel is obsessed with mirrors – Lafeber® Pet Birds? ›

Mirrors aren't bad for birds, many birds do just fine with mirrors. But when a bird gets obsessed with mirrors, you have two choices. Leave him with his mirrors and those are his companions, or remove the mirrors and he will eventually adjust. The mirrors may have nothing to do with his behavior towards other birds.

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Why is my co*ckatiel obsessed with the mirror? ›

Parrots especially love mirrors because they mistake their reflection as another bird. This can cause a parrot to be unhealthily obsessed with and attached to the mirror.

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What bird is obsessed with mirrors? ›

When they see their own reflection in your window, they assume they're seeing a competitor and attack the image. The species most likely to do this are those that nest close to houses, such as American Robins, Northern Cardinals, bluebirds, California Towhees, Chipping Sparrows, and Song Sparrows.

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Why does my bird keep looking in the mirror? ›

A budgie tends to go through several moods over the course of a day. Sometimes he will want to bicker and shove his companions around a bit. A lone bird has no other outlet for this than his toys, and mirrors tend to get most of the aggressive attention.

Is it bad for birds to look in mirrors? ›

Mirrors are one of the most misunderstood of the bird toy category. For years many pet owners have been told that birds should not get a mirror or they will become un-tame. This is simply not true. In fact, for smaller birds like parakeets and co*ckatiels, mirrors should be considered a necessity.

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Are mirrors good or bad for co*ckatiels? ›

Mirrors aren't bad for birds, many birds do just fine with mirrors. But when a bird gets obsessed with mirrors, you have two choices. Leave him with his mirrors and those are his companions, or remove the mirrors and he will eventually adjust. The mirrors may have nothing to do with his behavior towards other birds.

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Should I take away my birds mirror? ›

Catherine advocates that if you have a young bird you wish to bond with, there's no need for a mirror, it can become a distraction. Later in life circ*mstances can change and a mirror may make a positive difference in your bird's life.

Why is my bird biting the mirror? ›

Birds can't recognize their reflection, so they think it's another bird. Some birds are territorial and try to fight it. Others think it's a friend and try to play with it. Very few non-human animals recognise reflections in mirrors for what they are: a reflection of themselves.

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How to stop birds from sitting on car mirrors? ›

For car mirror attacks, the solution might be as simple as moving your car. Or, you can find a way to cover the mirrors while parked. As an example, plastic grocery bags work, tied over the side-view mirrors (just don't forget to remove them before you pull away!)

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Do mirrors confuse birds? ›

For avid bird lovers, using garden mirrors is a bit of a no-no. This is because the birds are confused about what they see and take the view as an extension of the true environment. This may cause them to fly right into the mirror, often with serious damage or even death as the result.

Are birds attracted to mirrors? ›

Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “When a bird starts pecking at a window like that, it has mistaken its own reflection for another bird and is trying to drive it away. Some individuals become obsessed with these phantom rivals and may attack them for weeks.

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Can birds tell when you're looking at them? ›

But in the wild bird world, direct eye contact signals danger. That's because it mimics the gaze that a predator has on its prey. So when humans look directly at a bird, or even in their direction, birds take note.

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Can birds recognize themselves in the mirror? ›

The mirror test, then, is used to test animal's self-awareness. Bonobos and bottlenose dolphins are among the animals who've passed, though many other species failed. Of the birds tested, only the magpie and the domestic pigeon passed, while parrots, jackdaws and carrion crows failed.

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Why shouldn't I give my bird a mirror? ›

If you do not want two birds, just make sure to give your bird lots of attention and keep those mirrors away! Birds can be kept singly just fine, but access to a mirror will teach them bad habits, as well as make them territorial and withdrawn.

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What do pet birds like to play with? ›

Stainless steel, natural non-toxic wood, rope, and acrylic make great materials for toys. Indestructible toys go against a bird's nature and are boring. Birds love to destroy things. Appropriate chewable objects include untreated wood blocks, branches, pinecones, rawhide, natural fiber rope, cloth, and soft pine.