Intra-specific behaviours include chasing, diving, tussling with beaks, regurgitating and feeding one another, perching and playing, and moving and vocalising. Groups are often “family” groups of birds (an adult pair with 2-4 juveniles or non-breeding birds) (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a).
Large flocks usually concentrate at roost sites, water points or fruiting trees and represent an aggregation of several groups. Roost sites are usually emergent snags or trees, typically tall Eucalyptus species, in the forest but sites adjacent to forest are also used (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a).
Between periods of activity the birds mostly remain perched but also call, preen, allopreen, rest and occasionally feed (Skead 1964; Wirminghaus et al. 2000a). Pairing and gregarious flocking behaviour are common (Skead 1964; Wirminghaus et al. 2000a). Preening includes scratching and stretching behaviours (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a). When preening, birds vocalise with small chirps, rattle their feathers, then stretch their shoulders back, before scratching the head, especially below and behind the eye. The sequence of behaviours sometimes includes forward leaning with a bill-cleaning action, fluffing of the feathers, and turning the tail to the sun. Backward extension of the shoulders and wings, referred to as the archangel display, is also used in sexual and aggressive contexts. A high-pitched screech is associated with the display (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a). Stretching behaviour is accompanied by wing-clips and tail-wags which are also included courtship displays (see Breeding Biology).
Cape Parrots are strong fliers, with an erratic (zig-zag) flight pattern (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a). They fly as pairs or larger groups with the group breaking up into sub-groups of 1-5 birds, which move in different directions and then regroup. Sometimes they fly as singletons (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a). Flock size is rarely greater than 10 in flight. Birds fly high above the forest canopy, wheeling and swerving about, or with fast and direct movement when moving between forests, or with a slow and fluttering movement before settling to feed or socialise.
They circle (singly or in flocks), dive (after horizontal flight) and swoop. Circling is the most common flight pattern, with birds flying out from snags or trees, to circle before returning to perch. If disturbed, birds take flight, sometimes darting through trees, squawking or screeching loudly (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a).
Few inter-specific interactions have been recorded with other avian frugivores, namely Rameron Pigeons (Columba arquatrix) and Knysna Turacos (Tauraco corythaix) when mixed groups forage in fruiting trees. African Goshawks (Accipter tachiro), Black Sparrowhawks (A. melanoleucus) and Lanner Falcons (Falco biarmicus) occasionally chase Cape Parrots (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a). The parrots will occasionally mob predators e.g. Gymonogenes (Polyboroides typus).
Loud, often continuous, calling make Cape Parrots conspicuous. Distinct vocal repertoire; calls heard most frequently include five distinct calls described as ‘tzu-weee, zu-wee, zeu-wee, zz-keek’ and a nasal ‘zeek’ (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a).
They fly as pairs or larger groups with the group breaking up into sub-groups of 1-5 birds, which move in different directions and then regroup. Very vocal in flight: calling before taking off, and calling continuously while flying with a characteristic high-pitched call.
A raucous alarm call is given when disturbed: it is rapid with a rasping tone and up to 12 identifiable harmonics. Breeding pairs and juveniles threatened at the nest are usually quiet but infrequently chirp (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a).
