Basic Guide in Training any Domestic Bird + 5 Easy Tricks

Translated by Nick R

Many times we find information on how to train a dog or a cat, but very rarely on how to do it with birds. In the following paragraphs, you’ll find a guide with relevant information for training any domestic bird. Follow me!

Table of Contents

5 facts to keep in mind before training a bird

Before we start with the step-by-step I would like you to know these facts or just confirm your previous knowledge about birds.

Birds are very intelligent, much more than we think.
They can be very social and emotional animals, some species more than others, but you can achieve interesting bonds with all of them.
They are good pets for first-timers. Even though their care is not easy, with some good instructions it will be easy to keep them.
Their morphology strongly determines their behavior; a granivorous bird is not the same as a nectarivorous bird.
Birds are not as trusting as dogs, they require their space. So, earn their trust.

What does it mean to train a domestic bird?

Initially, when we want to train a pet we think we are only training the pet (sounds redundant, I know) and it is not so. Training a domestic bird requires that you, the trainer, train yourself as well. That is, you need to prepare yourself to do it right so the bird is not traumatized in the process and you get to bond with it naturally. To do this, you need to follow this general rule:

The first thing is for you to gather as much information as you can about the species and their behavior.
Putting into practice the knowledge you acquire is the best way to learn.
Be patient: immediate results do not exist and if you want to do it right, work at it.

How easy is it to train a domestic bird?

After several investigations, renowned scientist Jennifer Ackerman has stated that “Birds can think logically and reason on the same level as children” (quoting her own words). This means they are animals with the ability to solve simple problems, which was thought to be a characteristic of animals with larger brains such as some mammals.

Does this tell you anything? Of course it does! It means that they are easy to train.

I was able to check it out and it was simply amazing! I couldn’t believe it. Really, I had only had the opportunity to see crows do what my friend’s cockatiel did. The bird, who had previous training, was able to pull seed from the bottom of a container using the laws of fluid physics to its advantage.

Birds have truly amazing skills, imagine what they could accomplish if they were trained.

The most recommended birds to be trained

This list includes the most common domestic birds, all very different from each other and very well adapted to life in captivity.

If you want more information about each species you can read the care guides that are linked to each bird.

Basic training: How to train domestic birds to perch in your hand?

‘Step Up’ is the first step to getting your bird to do any trick because if it perches on your finger it will be easier to teach it from simple commands. So, “As the kingfisher said, let’s jump right in.”

Keep in mind that for training to be successful, the bird must have a comfortable and spacious environment. Try to keep training sessions to 10 to 15 minutes.

Train it from its youth, it is the best time of its life and you’ll be able to reinforce teachings occasionally so that it doesn’t forget what it has learned as it grows up.

Here is a step-by-step guide to training your bird to come to your call and perch on your finger:

1. Gain your bird’s trust

To gain its trust, you need to be very careful about what you do – everything counts in its training.

Give your bird time to adjust to the home

Patience is essential, it will be the basis of the whole process. Normally your friend will need two weeks to get used to his new home, do not force him, give him time.

Choose a good place, not too noisy or too quiet. So, leave him in a crowded place to make it easier for him to adapt as he will frequently see the presence of people.
Do not place his cage in a dangerous place such as the kitchen or any other place where activities that could put your bird at risk are carried out.

Be careful with your movements

Make slow, smooth movements when approaching your bird.

Approach the bird calmly, maintaining a posture slightly above eye level. This will avoid appearing submissive, if you do it too low, or threatening, if you do it too high.

Talk to your bird

A good sign is if your bird stops flapping its wings when you approach, you’ve earned its first-level trust. As with the environment, you must also be careful with your voice.

Talk to it often. When you talk to your winged friend, do it in a friendly way; softly and calmly to generate a closer bond with him. Do this when you change its food and water so the bird will recognize your presence in a positive way.

2. Start the bird’s training with contact

Contact is the second phase when you have already gained the trust of your little friend. Hand taming is the most common way to tame birds.

First approach to the bird

Place your hand on the cage while talking to it in a calm tone of voice.
Keep your hand on the cage for 10 to 15 minutes.

When you are past the first stage and the bird is not nervous, you can try putting your hand inside the cage. Keep in mind:

Do not touch the bird, just introduce your hand into the cage very subtly. Do it every morning while you talk to it, when you change its food and water.
Be patient, it will be startled several times before you get it comfortable with this exercise.

Second approach to the bird

Once you have achieved the previous level of training, where you were able to introduce your hand and build confidence without contact, you are ready to begin the direct contact stage.

The first stage involves using your hand as a perch, as follows:

Subtly place your finger as a perch and leave it still. You can use a glove if you are afraid of being bitten. Although, I don’t recommend you use a glove because the idea of this exercise is for the bird to feel your hand directly.
Encourage it to come up to your finger with your hand below where its chest starts, pushing its body gently without taking it out of the cage. Don’t chase it, if it moves away from you and doesn’t climb up.

If that doesn’t work out, go further and change your strategy. Use a treat in front of the bird to get its attention, one that the bird is familiar with such as snacks, fruits or favorite vegetables.

Give the bird the command to climb or jump by holding the treat for it to see and reward it each time it listens to you.

3. Finish training the bird outdoors.

At this stage, the bird will be ready to leave its cage and perform the exercises of the final stage.

Prepare a place for training

Establishing a space to perform the training exercises is very important, once the bird has passed the previous stages which were inside its cage. You must:

Lock the door of the room while performing the exercises.
Good lighting; a dark room would make the process very difficult.

Set up your bird’s cage

Organize its cage, remove any obstacle in its way, perches, water troughs, feeders, etc. Or, if not, set aside a cage for training.
Take your pet inside the cage before arriving at the training place.

Take your bird out of its cage

Once you are at the training place ready to start the exercises, take it out of the cage carefully. Be careful because his first reaction will be to jump out of the cage.

Use both of your hands, one for the bird to rest on your finger and the other behind it to prevent it from jumping out. Remember, don’t force it out.
Once it follows the commands, praise it with words such as Very good! Well done! Good bird!

Take it back to the cage

At the end of each session return your little friend to his cage and put it back in its place.

Gently put him back in his cage while he perches on your finger, you can help him by using a verbal command to enter such as “Get down!
Finally, close the cage door when your bird is settled in its cage.

5 Tricks for training your pet bird

After you have completed the process of getting your bird to perch on your finger, you will be an expert and will be able to get your bird to do more advanced tricks. Some of those tricks are explained here!

Train your bird with the towel trick

Towels are very important for giving medicine to birds, for hygiene or to treat an injury.

Use a white towel, never any other color, as brightly colored towels may frighten your bird.
Place treats or snacks on the white towel, so it will concentrate better. Give him time to get used to it, spending about 10 minutes a day.
Wrap his tail with the towel (including the legs and belly), then place your thumb and middle finger, one on each side of his neck and put your index finger on his head. Finally, use your other hand to dispense the medication.

Train your bird to obtain objects

This trick will undoubtedly be very interesting since he will obey your commands when you ask him to bring objects.

Select a shiny object that catches your bird’s attention.
Hold it in front of the bird until he picks it up with his beak. Before giving the command, give him time and play with the object.
Give him the command to fetch or take the object. Try asking him to pick up the object only the first few times.
Ask him to release the object in your hand 15 to 20 seconds after he has picked it up. Repeat this exercise several times in 10-minute sessions each day.
Reward him with a treat or snack each time he does steps 3 and 4.

Train your bird with the greeting trick

This is the most fun trick and the one that often surprises onlookers the most, it only works if he has already passed the basic ‘Step up’ training. Remember they are friends and friends have a special high five!

Place your bird in a special place for training.
Use your index finger to encourage the bird to move its leg, you can gently push it towards you to “high five”. You can use a command such as “Give me the paw! The paw!
Reward him when he bumps his paw against your hand or finger.

I recommend you have lots of treats and lots of patience. It’s an easy trick, but it will take time at first. Repeat it every day for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Train your bird with the trick of sitting in your shoulder

This is the best one of all! You’ll be able to look like a pirate by sitting your bird on your shoulder. Plus, it will be practice to further strengthen your bond with your winged friend.

Sit him on your shoulder carefully several times and try to do it while he poses quietly on your finger, passing him to your shoulder.
Give him the command Sit! Sit! or Get on! Repeat the exercise as many times as necessary until it rests on your shoulder, at least 10 minutes a day, without forcing it.
Reward him, once he feels confident and stays seated on your shoulder. Then you can walk calmly with him, he will be a red beard and your confident bird!

Train your bird with the bow trick

Respect is mutual and that is shown with a bow, you can teach him this trick to surprise your friends. I recommend you try this trick when you have overcome the previous tricks.

Hold a treat at the bird’s eye level.
Move the treat vertically up and down, to get your bird to move its body to the rhythm of your hand in an arc as it follows the delicious treat.
Give him the command with a chosen command, you can say Revere! or Bow!
Reward him each time he does the exercise. Repeat this exercise for 10 minutes daily until he does it without a problem.
Try it without the treat.

Did you know that?

Speaking of tricks, did you know that birds are experts at spotting magic tricks?

Yes, birds are very intelligent animals and detect magic tricks very nimbly, it is not easy to fool them. Some trainers have already proven the ability of birds to find hidden objects, for example, in sleight of hand games such as cup and ball, where most humans fail. Interesting, isn’t it?

Now that you know how to train any house bird to perch on your hand, train yours!

Learn more:

Raising bird out of the cage

Teaching Children Bird CareGetting Your Dog to Get Along With Your Bird