Please can someone advise me .
In the past I have never given my birds a mirror before they could talk, budgies and cockatiels.
This time with Winston, an Alexandrine Ring neck, I did not give him a mirror for the first 18 months. When he was not talking very much I gave in and bought him one. That was 6 months ago.For the next five months he ignored it . Now he has started strutting in front of it, looking at himself first one side then the other, he also opens a seed in front of the mirror. This goes on for about 10 mins before he leaves the cage, but he keeps going back for a look.
I am guessing it is mating behavior, but he does not mature until he is 2 1/2 or 3 years old.
I am going to take the mirror away, but wondered if anyone else had seen this behavior.
Do you think it is wise to let them have a mirror before they can talk?
Are there any pros and cons ??
Chrissy NZ

I have always been told and, have read, that a mirror is a replacement for a mate. The bird may bond more to the mirror than to you. Also, may not learn to talk as quickly because he already has someone to communicate with. (the mirror) My personal experience is the same: Not as friendly toward humans, not a great talker. I stopped putting mirrors in cages well over twenty years ago.

I cannot see the back of his neck in the picture so I couldn't tell... Do you know for a fact that the bird is a he? Did you have him sexed or is it just a feeling you have? Because females mature earlier than males and even males don't all mature at the same time (some have been known to be able to fertilize eggs as young as one and a half years of age) and this sounds like typical mating behavior to me.

I don't use mirrors normally although there are a couple of them in toys in the birdroom. My birds don't need them because they have the company of other birds but, when you have only one bird, I think it's kind to give them a mirror. After all, all of these birds are highly social and their brains are programmed to find comfort and safety in numbers...

Mirrors are usually not recommended because the bird may eventually become overly possessive of it, leading to aggressive behaviors. I've heard stories of birds becoming so attached to their "friends" that they refuse to leave the mirror long enough to play with other toys, interact with humans, and even eat sufficiently. Why risk it? Ollie has never had a mirror, and she doesn't miss it.

I've heard similar stories and I also stay away from mirrors. If a single bird's best "friend" is the bird in the mirror I think it's time to get them a real bird friend or socialize them more with humans. Winston came home with a mirror that he was attached to and I weaned him off of that, and he does great now that he's more social with real birds and people.

Thank you every one for your replies.
I should have known better. I went against my better judgement when I got the mirror, and now I know I was right. Hopefully I have not done too much damage, he only showed the behavior for a week or so. The mirror is now with my lonley 10 year old girl cockatiel.
I am still not 100% certain Winston is a boy, but the behavior patterns are there, and he has a flat head and a grey shadow ring. He is very bonded to us and hates to be left alone.He he calling out now in his baby talk, which is what he used to do before the mirror.
He has just started his two year old moult, so hopefully the ring will come in in the next three or four months.
Thank you all again,
Christine

Some birds do fine with Mirrors ,They enjoy having them to look at and talk to,It is like they have another bird with them,many birds do fine having them and being fine with their humans,You have to try and see how they are,your bird can have a mirror as long as he does not show aggressive behaviours,I have many of my birds who have them and do just fine and still love me just the same.
Mirrors can be good when you are not home alot as it provides alomost a companion for your bird,It is all a individual case.

Here is Winston front on..does he look like a male ??[IMG]

http://www.parrotchatter.com/gallery/data/500/win_small.jpg[/IMG]
I hope I have posted the photo Ok.
The mirror has now been out of the cage for a week and we are still getting the strutting and bobbing with pinned eyes behavior. Now he is doing it first thing in the morning when I uncover him, and not through the rest of the day. He uses a calcium perch he does not normally use. Does it still sound like mating behavior ?

PS looks like I messed up the photo again it is in the Gallery

Just trying this again and hoping the picture comes up this time.
I seem to be going around in circles .
Chrissy
http//www.parrotchatter.com/gallery/data/500/win_small.JPG[/IMG]

Obviously not xx

We were looking after an adopted cockatiel a while ago. It was a very loving bundle of joy, sweet and adorable... until it saw a mirror!
Then the Jeckle and Hyde transformation occured and it would attack people on sight!!
Since it was fully flighted, we had to make sure all the mirrors in the house were covered before we could let it out to play :-)