It's oh so tempting to cuddle and pet your bird, I know, but how you do it and how often can have a big impact on the nature of your relationship. First, what is petting to a parrot? Parrots in the wild don't pet each other, but they do preen each other and help each other take care of their feathers. Flock members preen each others heads, which can't be reached by themselves. However, ONLY mates preen each others bodies. How does this translate in captivity? By petting/touching your bird on the