Why do budgies bob their head?

Budgies look very funny when they're doing it, but why are they doing it? This behaviour is seen mostly in male budgies, but female budgies do it too!

1. Courtship ritual

A male budgie often does this to impress a female budgie. If the female budgie likes him, they will both feed each other and eventually mate. Single budgies sometimes bob their head in front of the cage mirror or another toy they really like.

2. Baby budgies

Baby budgies might bob their head when they're hungry and asking their parents for food. The mother and father will encourage the baby to fly from perch to perch, and the baby might again respond by crying and bobbing its head. It means they're still dependant on their parents.



3. Happiness

Every budgie has its own personality, and some budgies are more outgoing than others. Some budgies dance and bob their head simply because they like it, and they know we like it. They do it when they're happy or excited about something, and they really want to show it.

4. Unusual behaviour

If you think you notice a kind of "weird head bobbing", and other unusual symptoms (like your budgie fluffing up and staying fluffed up for a long time, or vomiting), it's always better to be safe and sorry and take your budgie to the avian vet.