14 Scientific Papers For Bird And Parrot Care

Last Updated on February 16, 2023 by Catherine Tobsing

If you want richer, robust, and more granular content than Facebook bird groups and Google searches for information about pet bird care, it’s best to navigate towards expert sources (which is why you’re here 😉

We spend a lot of time fact-finding and this list (below) is just one of our sources.

All papers were written by veterinarians, ornithologists, zoologists, and other accredited professionals.

An excerpt from Feather Picking and Self Mutilation in Birds

Improper wing clipping. This is a huge problem. The feather should be cut between the upper and lower coverts so the clipped feather is hidden between them and not seen.

Typical pet-shop clips are done straight across; the wing is pulled open and the feathers clipped so that the cut feather shafts protrude. This results in sharp edges which irritate the bird’s sides.

(image added by Windy City Parrot)

If it is done correctly, only the first few primaries are cut, allowing the bird to flutter to the floor; but if they are cut straight across, the bird will crash since the secondaries give it lift.

With a poor cut, the bird will pull its wings into its body and the sharp edges of the cut feathers, which are not protected by the coverlet feathers, will poke the bird in his side.

They irritate the bird, and he starts picking at them and his side. He ends up with primary feather shafts that are frayed and going in all directions.