Parrots CAN move their eyes!

[PlaxMacaws]

This is kind of a myth buster post. I've run across quite a few claims that parrots can't move their eyes. And I have to say that such claims are inaccurate. While parrots don't enjoy nearly the range of eye movement found in most mammals, they still can (and do) make limited eye movements. They then compensate for the limited range by continually darting their heads about - that's how they scan their surroundings, almost like we humans dart our eyeballs around to do the same. Those of you with parrots in your family can confirm their limited eye movement capability by using their pupils as a reference point and then carefully observing as activities occur around them. You'll notice slight darts of movement here and there.

[Mare]

Heck, YEAH! I notice that sometimes my cockatoos will turn their head to look with just one eye at something but if looking forward I can see them move their eyes almost like a chameleon!

[PlaxMacaws]

Heck, YEAH! I notice that sometimes my cockatoos will turn their head to look with just one eye at something but if looking forward I can see them move their eyes almost like a chameleon!

Indeed correct!

[froggij]

Yup! Orsino likes to sit in the sunniest spot he can find, and I like it 'cause I can see his beautiful brown eyes, and his little pupils move around like crazy.

[94lt1]

It's really obvious on our conures.. Even our budgies.. Our Amazon can really move her eyes..

[froggij]

I've got another one - I was told by a source I thought to be credible that if a cockatiel is a whistler, he'll never talk. Orsino has been listening to his sisters talk and trying out 'tiel versions of words. He just said "night-night" to me.

[plax]

I've got another one - I was told by a source I thought to be credible that if a cockatiel is a whistler, he'll never talk. Orsino has been listening to his sisters talk and trying out 'tiel versions of words. He just said "night-night" to me.

Yeah, I think that's a common belief about several species. Salsa's mom used to say that she would never teach Sals to whistle because she feared it may negatively impact his desire to talk. Well, when he came to live with me one of the first things I did was teach him to whistle. And let me tell you, his whistling hasn't diminished his gabbiness one bit

[2birds]

Clover whistles and talks up a storm. Poet whistles and is trying out new words as well. Lilliput moves her eyes around, I always thought their eyes look like chameleons too. I really don't see Clover and Poet move their eyes much.

[ALEXA_KIRSCH]

When I first had my Palm I didn't realize that he couldn't move his eyed up w/o his huge beak following; following when my hands moved up to give scritches . I'm forever grateful to the person who wrote me that they can't look up w/o having their break go up with their eyes,

[PlaxMacaws]

When I first had my Palm I didn't realize that he couldn't move his eyed up w/o his huge beak following; following when my hands moved up to give scritches . I'm forever grateful to the person who wrote me that they can't look up w/o having their break go up with their eyes,

Hello Alexa... I don't know about Palm Toos, but my Hy, Zaffer, can indeed move his eyes upward (as well as downward, forward, and backward). Zaf's eyes protrude a good bit from the sides of his head and appear much like rotating turrets. Those eye 'turrets' of his are quite reminiscent of a chameleon lizard. I've noticed, however, that parrots with less eye protrusion seem to have less notable eye movement ability. But they at least all seem to have eye movement ability within a limited range. And you're correct... they do compensate for eye movement restrictions by frequently darting their heads.

Thanks for joining our community!