What does the crest mean?

[Mare]

What's it announce..why is it there..can you read it?

[Mare]

My iPad is messing with me, I meant for this to read.. "what DOES the crest mean"



Fixed - plax

[Lady]

The crest as in a birds crest?

Wikipedia says: [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

Crests on birds are generally used for display purposes. Cockatoos and their smaller cousins, cockatiels, are part of the Cacatuidae family of parrots found in Australia, the Bismarck Archipelago and the Philippines, and are probably the most recognizable birds to feature crests.[1] Cockatoos and cockatiels possess crests which may be raised or lowered at will. Their crests are used to communicate with fellow members of their species, or as a form of defense to frighten away other species that approach too closely, making the bird appear larger when the crest is suddenly and unexpectedly raised.[2] Crests can be recumbent or recursive, depending on the species.[3] The recumbent crest has feathers that are straight and lie down essentially flat on the head until the bird fans them out to where they stand up. The white cockatoo, for example, possesses a recumbent crest.[4] The recursive crest is noticeable even when it is not fanned out because it features feathers, that, when lying down, curve upward at the tips, and when standing up, often bend slightly forward toward the front of the head. Many recursive crests also feature brilliant colors. The sulphur-crested cockatoo has a recursive crest, and the Major Mitchell's cockatoo (also known as the Leadbeater's cockatoo) possesses a prominent recursive crest.[5] Some birds, like the galah, or rose-breasted cockatoo, have modified crests, which has features of both recumbent and recursive types.[6]

[mdg1109]

Charlie stands his crest up when he is curious, when he is trying to make himself look bigger and when he is being silly.

Thank you for posting the link Suzanne, interesting to learn more about our fids!

[PlaxMacaws]

All of the above! Plus it's a built-in war bonnet ;). I think when a bird raises its crest it's analogous to when we humans raise our eyebrows. Similar emotions seem to be represented by each of those actions.

Michelle: I believe it was Alice who posted the link :)

[Mare]

Thank you for that link, Alice! Great info :). I believe that birds without crests still give some sign with their head feathers..is this true?.. The birds that are eye pinners are super scary to me and when they do THAT, I KNOW, something's going on!!

[Pinkbirdy]

I find my Toos crest goes up when their curious ,happy ,excited . My Hawkheads crest only goes up when shes fearful. The eye pinning at my house means different things for different species. Happy and excited ,the Ekkies and Macaws . Who to look out for ,the Caiques and Zons :)

[bill-e]

The next thing you feel when Nike raises her crest and you don't back off is pain. She seldom raises it for any other reason than to attack.

[Mare]

I find my Toos crest goes up when their curious ,happy ,excited . My Hawkheads crest only goes up when shes fearful. The eye pinning at my house means different things for different species. Happy and excited ,the Ekkies and Macaws . Who to look out for ,the Caiques and Zons :)


Terri! I really miss not having you and your "house" around more! I'm still not sold on the eye pinners, though.

[Mare]

The next thing you feel when Nike raises her crest and you don't back off is pain. She seldom raises it for any other reason than to attack.

Being able to read their signs is a great gift, Bill, as I'm sure you now realize :)

[Lady]

I have found I have to pay close attention when Lady is flashing or pinning her eyes to figure out why she is doing it. I try to examine the environment she is in as well as her body movements or posture and even if she is being vocal.

Often when I come home she is bouncing about and saying hello as loud as she can. Sometimes she moves side to side when I have a plate of food and her eyes flash as I get closer to her. I suppose she knows I might have something to share. When she's eating something her eyes are flashing if she is really enjoying it too. If she doesn't want me to bother her and I get to close she will bow her head and her eyes start flashing and I don't try and reach to her or for her or I know I'll get a hard nip.