While talking about birds that get bad raps because of their species, Kate made me think. She described the bite and twist method of her Conure, and the crush of an amazon bite. I found that interesting, and I have to add, I never relized different species have different biting methods. While its not a pleasent topic, I am curious of how differernt species bite.

I'll be the first to admit, Macaws intimidate me Because of the size of their beak. I have only held one in my 31 years of Bird keeping. It was a HY that was placed on me when his daddy had something to do at a show I was at.

Now, I have been nailed by a few species, but would appreciate some imput from others who also experienced being bitten.

I have always been told that the bites among species rank in pain like this:
Cockatoo/Ekkie
Grey/Amazon
Macaw
Conures/Quakers
Budgies/Teils(tho pretty rare)
Canary/finch


Now, dont laugh, I HAVE been bitten several times by canaries. It isnt pleasent. They like to grab and twist. Its like pinching your skin in something.They leave you with Blood blisters.

Harley has bitten me 3 times in 16 years. Each time it was a bite and cruch, not quick to release. One made me fall to my knees and see stars. He got my wrist.


My greys seem to warn me prior with a nudge of their beak. Thats MY cue!
Sydney has done the most damage and left scars. Sydney is a hand fed baby too. He has misplaced aggression and think he has birdy ADD.
Stirling, Otis, and Sampson has never bitten me. Stirling and Otis being older adoptees. Sampson being a baby when I got him.
Bubba, had it out for me since the day he set eyes on me. Its the only grey that would purposely try to attack me. He was my dads grey, and I was his biggest competition. He never let me forget that either!
Emma, the sweet princess, HAS bitten me too. Hers doesnt break the skin, but is more a "i'm a spoiled rotten little girl and I can do what I want" bite.
I find the bites from Greys are more bite and grind, between two razor blades.

My tiels rarely bite me, and when they did, it was a pinch and grind. that is too....depending if there were eggs to protect. If my tiel had an egg to protect, I would happily stick my hand in any Amazon cage instead!

Ollie's bites are so quick, I dont even relize it till its over, and I'm bleeding.

so what are everyone else's experiences?

My finches would bite, twist and pinch like your canaries Lisa... little blood blisters- and they hurt!

Budgies- smae, but with more twist and more punch behind the beak. Ouch!

Parrotlet- more pinch and twist- and he always goes for the right places on your hand, the loose skin in between your fingers. Ouch.

I've only been bitten by one grey- Mercy. She bit me down to the bone quickly and cleanly- hurt like hell.

Caiques- at least my two, have a more pitbull approach to their bites.... when they really mean business they chomp down and grind and dont let go.. it takes two people to pull the bird off. And you usually leave with considerably less skin. My vet got bit by Higgins once- Higgins doesnt like males, and my vet was shocked at how much it hurt- he has a scarlet macaw and said Higgins was the worst bite he has had in a long time.

Paco I haven't got bitten from yet *knock on wood* but I can't imagine it would be pleasent.

When we first got Bailey (Parrotlet) and he'd bite he'd strike hard and fast and we thought it really hurt. That was until we got Olivia (green Rump Parrotlet). In the beginning we called her a vampire 'cause she liked to draw blood and would often be found hanging upside down in her cage. Don't ask 'cause I don't know why!! Then we got Merlin (CAG). When he does bite and means business his technique is the bite and grind and when he thinks he's inflicted enough pain and you've gotten the message he lets go. Now Bailey and Olivia's bites feel like a mosquito in comparison.

is that coming from the hubby or you......J/K

With Bella she gives the the beak nudge if she wants to be let alone. And it is the bite and grind. This time she was refusing step-ups last week. I figured out why...I am convinced they're intuned with us ladies who are of child baring age more than we think they are. She would have nothing to really do with me last week. Now we're back to the same-ol-same-ol...I'll remember it for next time.

Did I loose a little blood yes. It just depended on where she managed to bite me and my skin has been ultra-dry due to the cold weather so it broke easier. But for the most part no blood loss.

Don't forget the ringnecks...they hurt like nobody's business. The beak on an IRN is wickedly sharp and they do mean business.

Most of the ekkies I have met give a fair warning before biting. I haven't been bitten too hard.

Mac bits, when they DON'T mean it, are more of a bruise than anything else

Toos HURT...simply put...they have a lower beak that have two points and they love to dig.

I can handle tiels and budgie bite fine...doesn't mean they don't hurt...

Good recommedation is no never pull away...always push INTO the bird biting you

Dani

I've only got a bad bite from Ollie once, on my lip. She just bit, dug in, and pulled (or maybe I have that inch long scar from ME jerking away!) It happened so fast that I can't really remember her "technique"!

I've gotten some marks on my fingers/hands in the past, especially when I'm trying to get her harness on her. She doesn't seem to go about it in any particular way, but her beak is just soooo strong that I don't think it matters what her methods are!

Dakota does the pinch and twist action. That little stinker sure knows how to make it hurt, although he rarely breaks any skin.

Unfortunately he's gotten me ONCE! Will never approach him while on the phone again!!!

I think Schroeder has a bite and grind method too.

I'm REALLY lucky though in that I have the sweetest baby boy so far!

There have been times he 'should' have bitten me. He growled or lunged but as soon as he gets a hold of my skin, he gently grinds without causing any pain, and then calms down.

Its a quick lunge but then he manages to stop midbite and not close his beak all the way, just sort of grinds on my finger (or whatever) really gently and I'm sure he had intended to rip the finger off when he first started this action.

The only real bite I've gotten from him is when he looses balance and just bites to hang on.

I'm sure this won't last forever, but I love my little guy so much and I really trust him

Ariel has gotten me once. I was trying to harness her and she didn't like it. Fair enough but whew. I was in pain for more than a week and I'm ptretty sure it was a mild warning bite.