There are some pretty universal signs when a bird is saying, “Back off”.
Your relationship with your parrot will be the most healthy when it involves reciprocal “respect”.
If a bird puffs himself up and his eyes start to flash, don’t reach into the cage!
You can calm him down first using a soothing voice.
Even a very well trained bird has times when you can tell by his body posture….
Feathers out a bit (almost arched), individual feathers a bit on end, some extra loud clicking of the beak, eyes flashing–that he might just be too stimulated and could bite.
This doesn’t always mean he’s angry at you, just that he very excited and can’t quite control himself .
Sometimes these signs are subtle, sometimes they’re done in an outright “flash” dance.
While it is possible to calm your parrot down from this “stance,” don’t just reach in fast with your hand if he begins to show these signals.
The foundation you build with a young bird will make all the difference in how you can handle him when he reaches maturity.
The best way to learn the signs is to watch your bird and make a note of specific reactions.
For example, if you move quickly and he spins around, it means he has been startled and an instinctive response has kicked in.
Talk to him first.
One special thing to look for is when your bird seems to be in a trance-like state. This is a natural protective behavior.
In the wild parrots “take turns” standing watch for the flock for any danger.
They are in a hyperalert state at that time, blocking out all extraneous (i.e., nondangerous) stimuli.
A sudden movement or threatening approach during that “trance” can make them lunge instinctively.
It is important to note that birds that have shown aggressive behavior should NOT be allowed to sit on your shoulder.
A startled bird can bite your face and do serious injury.
Certain species, such as amazon parrots, should be trained to sit on your hand or wrist, never on your shoulder.
While re-training a bird used to sitting on your shoulder can be challenging, it is not impossible.
All of your bird’s seemingly unpredictable behaviors can be largely predictable if you accept that they are part of a whole repertoire of natural instincts.
Unfortunately, most people give up after the first few bites and don’t understand why their sweet baby has become a piranha. 
By establishing a few basic rules early on in your relationship with your bird, you can work through these behavioral issues, and your pet does not have to end up on the adoption merry-go-round.
Resolve all your Parrot Training problems right here.
Tags: Parrot Training, Parrots, Train Your Parrot, Training Parrots
