Why Does My Cockatiel Fly Backwards?

Listed below are common behavior problems reported in pet cockatiels. Simply click the question below for more information. If your questions cannot be found here, please visit or main cockatiel section or stop by our parrot forum and post your questions.

Backwards Flying Cockatiel

In general, cockatiels do not fly backwards. Rather, this is a consequence of a bird's wings being clipped to short. This is most obvious when the cockatiel tries to take off but is not able to get the proper lift to do so. Some cockatiels will fall backwards rather than forwards as there is not enough air movement underneath their wings to propel them forward. The only way to remedy this problem is to wait for the bird to molt and allow its new wing feathers to grow into place. Depending on when this occurs, this process can take anywhere from six months to a year.

If the cockatiel seems to have a bad wing clip, the owner should make every effort to handle the bird on softer surfaces to keep the bird from hurting itself. The owner should also make slower movements to be sure the cockatiel does not frighten easily. This careful handling will ensure the cockatiel will not jump off due to being nervous. All household pets such as dogs or cats should be placed into another room as they too can also startle the cockatiel. If the cockatiel’s owner is waiting for its wings to grow out, the best solution would be for the owner to handle the bird while sitting down on a soft couch as this is excellent padding for the bird should it accidentally decide to jump.

It is important to note that cockatiel’s wings should be clipped properly to avoid any injury to the bird. The bird should be able to glide down rather than fall down. In fact, a proper clip should only remove the first eight feathers of the bird's wing. This seems to be enough to stop the bird from flying yet still allows the bird to glide gently into a given position. Broken feathers are a good indication that a cockatiel has received a bad clip. These broken feathers will not provide the bird with enough control to stay in the air. This will cause the bird to crash and unfortunately their long tails are the first to hit the ground. The more the tail is damaged, the harder it is for the bird to maintain any control in the air.

If the bird has jumped down and hurt itself, the owner should immediately visit an avian veterinarian to ensure that no serious damage has occurred. Careful time and consideration must be put aside finding a good veterinarian as this will allow the parrot to live a long and healthy lifespan.

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