Check out Steve Martin's Natural Encounters website. I've just read a piece that I found really informative. Go to www.naturalencounters.com. Under the section "Papers and Presentations" there's a paper called 'Biting. It's not for the Birds'. Might be of some help.

First, when you see him flare his tail, stop what you're doing, get out of striking distance, and figure out what made him turn aggressive. Did you pick up something? Move in a way that might have alarmed him? What time of day is it? And so on... if you can identify what it is that sends him into battle mode, then you have two options: #1 stop doing that; #2 teach him to look forward to your doing that, by desensitizing him and/or rewarding him every time you do that. #2 is easier said than done, #1 is easy but it sure can be inconvenient. I have to make sure I only handle certain food bowls when Phoebe is in another room.

Second, look at what his biting accomplishes, from his perspective. This can take some thought, and some trial-and-error. Then you can reduce biting by reacting to his flared tail, by doing whatever it is he wants you to do - maybe he wants you to put down whatever you just picked up, maybe he wants you to go away for a minute, etc, etc. Bsaically, treat that flared tail as a form of communication, and respect his wishes. It's inconvenient, but you'll get bit less.

It's really important to heed his warnings. If he flares his tail, get out of striking distance immediately. This alone should reduce the biting. Also consider that every time he does bite you, and you react in the way that he wants, he becomes a little bit more likely to bite you again - he's learning that biting you gets him what he wants. If you heed the warnings, and get out of his way, then you can work on what it is that sends him into battle mode, and find ways around that.

If you want help figuring out what it is that freaks him out, or what you can do about it, just keep on posting here... :-)

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA

He does this when he's in his cage-and will bite if i put my hand inside,but not if i poke my fingers only through the cage.it seems to mostly happen when our cell phones ring,but not strictly limited to that.Thank you !

Thank you for your help. But most of those articles seem to relate to a new bird. I've had "fonzi" for 17 years and this just started happening. I' m stumped !

I'm sorry but I had to laugh when you said that you've had Fonzi for 17 years and that you are stumped by his new behaviour. I've had my son for 21 years and his behaviour still confuses me. I guess we are all, human or bird, in constant growth and change. :)

To me it sounds like Fonzi is being somewhat protective of his cage. Try using a 'sleeping' cage. I have written about this in the forum topic 'love of dark places'
Fonzi's behaviour sounds very much like Hoot's before we used the seperate cage for night. Might be worth a try.

Thanks,I've been rereading his articles.It seems he has possibly been trying to communicate to me as the author dicusses. I am letting him out more and letting him spend alot more time on me.This has helped.Some of the other responses said he is protecting his cage,even from me.When he flairs his tail I talk to him for a minute,then leave him alone.Thanks for all your help.

Yes,yours and all the other replies have helped. My at home time is limited now,but when I am home,I let him out and he sits on me.This has helped alot.I listened to your advice about his tail flairing,and I think he just wants to be left alone at these times.Thanks for responding!