Hi Emanuele,
There have been many theories on why some pet birds get night frights, but there doesn’t seem to be one cause. Unless a bird is a nocturnal species, he does not have good night vision at all. In fact one method of catching birds out of an aviary or in a room if he escaped is to turn off the lights and the bird can be easily caught. Some bird owners have found that having a night light near the cage keeps the bird from having night frights. The theory is that something scares the bird, and in the dark, the bird thrashes around in a panic. Wild birds will do the same thing if startled in the night. But they are less likely to get injured or lose feathers since they aren’t in a cage. The key is to try to figure out if there is something that is regularly startling your bird. In many cases, it is an isolated incident where possible a noise from outside startled the bird. If a bird is doing this a lot, then you look at the surroundings. Birds are prey animals, so any movement in the night can cause frights. Could there be lights from outside shining through the window? Maybe headlights from a passing car, an outdoor light at a neighbor’s house, or even moonlight. A tree or bush moving in the breeze can cause shadows that could be scary for a bird. Noises can be alarming – barking dog, cats fighting, car alarms. Most birds do not roost in the open at night. I generally recommend covering the cage at night to block out lights and movement. If this is a bird who has had night frights often, leaving the cover partly open and having a night light can help. Some birds do better in complete darkness and others do not. If he is content and safe spending the night where he is now, then that may be the answer for you. Otherwise try confining him in the cage at night with a cover or partial cover and night light. Unfortunately trial and error is the only way to find out what works best for a bird.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
