One of the most persistent and upsetting behaviors parrots can offer is ear-splitting noise. Budgies may get a pass here, but from those little guys on up, screaming is a typical—and solvable—problem.
Behavior Always Has Function
First, understand this: your parrot screams for a reason. All behavior serves a function. If it didn’t “work” for the bird in some way, he wouldn’t keep doing it.
So ask yourself: What’s in it for him? What reinforcement is he getting from this noise?
In most cases, parrots scream because they’ve learned that it gets a response—social attention from people or birds nearby. Whether you yell back, leave the room, cover the cage, or even spray him with water, your reaction is a form of social attention. Many parrots are just bored enough that even mildly unpleasant attention is better than none at all. If any of those strategies worked long-term, you wouldn’t be reading this now.
Other Reasons for Screaming
Not all screaming is attention-seeking. Some birds vocalize to alert you to perceived danger—what we call sentinel behavior. If your parrot has a window view or reacts to outside sounds, environmental modification may be a necessary part of your solution. Moving the cage for a different view or closing the blinds could provide a different and less distressing view.
Other birds scream at predictable times—when the garage door opens, when the phone rings, when you leave the room. If you can predict it, you can often prevent it. Still others simply mirror household energy. If your home is loud, your parrot may just be joining the flock chorus. Quiet the environment, and your parrot could follow suit.
There are rare cases in which weaning trauma is mistaken for a screaming problem. This can happen when first-time bird owners adopt a baby who has been weaned too early and they go online to get information about what might be wrong. Often they are given advice about screaming. Remember that behavior is a study of one.
And yes, some species are louder by nature. Sun conures, anyone? Still, even the loudest species can learn quieter routines.
“Parrots Are What You Make of Them”
You have more power than you think. Screaming often persists because we intentionally reward it. But the flip side is that you can just as easily reward behaviors you do want. If your parrot screams for attention, make sure he only gets attention when he’s being calm, playful, or verbal in a pleasant way.
Years ago, I took classes from Jamie McLeod of the Parrot Menagerie. She said, “Parrots are what you make of them.” She was right.
- Want a loud parrot? Respond when he’s loud.
- Want a playful parrot? React when he plays.
- Want a talking parrot? Reward the talking.
- Want better eating habits? Reinforce him when he eats vegetables.
“Ignore the Screaming” – But Not Just That!
You’ve probably heard this advice before: Ignore the screaming. And it’s true—as long as the behavior is being reinforced (rewarded), it won’t go away.
But there are two critical truths you must accept:
1. Any reaction can be reinforcement.
Don’t glance at him, sigh, leave the room, or shoot your partner a look. Silence and stillness must be your default. Get hearing protection if you need to. I’m not joking. Trying isn’t doing. Consistency is everything.
2. Ignoring alone is not enough.
You can’t just stop rewarding bad behavior—you must start rewarding good behavior. Otherwise, your parrot will invent a new behavior to meet the same need, and you probably won’t like that one either.
What if you responded with attention or a treat only when your parrot made pleasant sounds or played with a toy? That’s the behavior you’d start seeing more of. You get the behavior that you reinforce, not the behavior you want.
Behavior Change Starts with You
To change your parrot’s behavior, you must change your own. Stop rewarding screaming. Instead, reinforce the alternatives—talking, playing, foraging, or just quietly chewing.
Your timing matters. As soon as you hear a word or pleasant sound, respond immediately with a cheerful “Yes!” Then deliver a reward—food or a head scratch—within a few seconds. Carry treats in your pocket so you’re ready.
And remember: You can’t reward quiet. “Being quiet” isn’t a behavior. Look for something active your parrot is doing—playing, vocalizing pleasantly, chewing a toy—and reinforce that. Focus especially on desirable vocalizations.
Be consistent. Practice mindfulness around your bird’s behavior. Pay attention and catch him being good. I once heard Barbara Heidenreich say, “If an animal is aware of you, you should be aware of the animal.” So profoundly true.
The Impact of Diet
Diet matters more than most realize. Parrots who eat diets high in fat and carbohydrates often have more energy than they need—especially if they’re sedentary. That energy has to go somewhere. If your bird’s diet includes seed mix, nuts, or human snacks, it may be time for a diet overhaul. You need to work with a knowledgeable consultant who can help you teach your parrot to eat the right foods.
Burn Off That Energy
Bored parrots with pent-up energy will scream. Parrots who’ve just had a bath or time outdoors are usually calmer. A day in an outdoor aviary or a good bath in the morning can make a remarkable difference (assuming bathing is something your parrot enjoys).
Enrichment also helps: parrots can’t scream while chewing wood or foraging. Provide high-interest toys that allow destruction. Develop a system where you can easily provide something new daily. If your parrot doesn’t know how to forage, look for resources. My blog post Gardening and Wildcrafting for Parrots (and their People) is a good start.
Environment and Social Structure Matter
Is your parrot in a bird room all day? Consider moving him into the main living space. Parrots are flock animals. Extended isolation leads to vocal protest and multiple parrots in a bird room can often reinforce each other for screaming.
Your parrot should be out of the cage for at least 3–4 hours a day, in two separate chunks of time. Less than that can lead to chronic problems. A parrot needs to get out of the cage immediately as early in the morning as he wakes for at least an hour.
And if he’s formed a pair bond with you, expect more demanding behavior. Encourage a more balanced relationship by gradually moving from having close physical constact with you to having short training sessions instead. Station training helps him learn to be content off your body. Stationing training can be challenging – get help from a professional who knows what the behavior is supposed to look like.
Your Stop-the-Screaming Checklist:
- ❑ Ignore the screaming 100%—no reaction at all
- ❑ Reinforce pleasant vocalizations and toy play
- ❑ Say “Yes!” and deliver a valued food reward for desirable vocalizations
- ❑ Provide novel enrichment every 1–2 days
- ❑ Cut back excess fats and carbs in the diet (with professional guidance)
- ❑ Offer baths, outdoor time, and natural light
- ❑ Ensure a minimum of 3–4 hours out of the cage daily
- ❑ Teach skills like targeting and stationing
- ❑ Prevent screaming by anticipating triggers
- ❑ Adjust the environment to reduce stress or over-stimulation
Final Thoughts
To change your parrot’s behavior, you must change your own—your reactions, your routines, and your perspective. Screaming doesn’t have to be a life sentence. It’s simply behavior that has been reinforced. Teach your bird what does work, and you’ll see him choose that instead.
The Two Most Common Mistakes
- Stopping reinforcement too soon. Once screaming fades, people stop reinforcing the good behaviors. Don’t. Those new habits need maintaining.
- Mistaking a new noise as a new problem. Often, it’s the same issue—your parrot just changed strategies. The solution remains the same: reward the behaviors you want.
By guiding your parrot’s learning and consistently reinforcing desirable behavior, you’ll find that life becomes more peaceful—and more rewarding for both of you.
Thank you for reading my blog. I am Pamela Clark, CPBC, also known as “The Parrot Steward.” That name I chose carefully because I have dedicated my life to the stewardship of parrots in all areas. I provide behavior consultations to owners, as well as a few other services. Please explore my website before you move on to learn more. Also check out The Parrot Steward Community. For a small monthly fee, you have access to a two hour live stream weekly, the ability to DM me at any time, a resource library, and lively informative discussions on a variety of topics. This is a learning opportunity at an affordable fee. To check is out go here: https://the-parrot-steward-community.mn.co/share/xJURheWr8coXRNxY?utm_source=manual
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