Is My Bird Vomiting or Regurgitating? How to Tell the Difference

Bird owners often use the word “vomiting” for two very different behaviors. Regurgitation can be part of normal courtship or social behavior. True vomiting is more likely to indicate illness.

What does normal regurgitation look like? A bird may deliberately bring up food for a favorite person, mate, toy, or mirror. The behavior is usually controlled and directed toward a specific target. The bird may otherwise be bright, active, and eating normally.

What does vomiting look like? A sick bird may shake the head forcefully and scatter food or fluid around the cage. Material can stick to the feathers of the face and head. Lethargy, puffed feathers, poor appetite, weight loss, and abnormal droppings may also be present.

What can cause vomiting? Crop and gastrointestinal infections, fungal disease, toxins, foreign material, metabolic disease, and other illnesses can cause vomiting. Budgies and other small parrots can also develop avian gastric yeast infection, which may be associated with weight loss and regurgitation.

Veterinary workup An avian veterinarian may examine the mouth and crop, evaluate body weight, and perform crop or fecal testing. Bloodwork and imaging can be added when systemic disease or foreign material is suspected.

Treatment Treatment depends on the diagnosis and may include fluid support, nutritional support, treatment of a confirmed infection, or other targeted care. Do not mix medication into drinking water unless an avian veterinarian has specifically prescribed that method. Sick birds may drink unpredictable amounts.