Life with a parrot is always full of surprises, and our umbrella cockatoo, Julius, is no exception. But one day, things took an unexpected turn when Julius bit Dad’s finger—a bite that went way beyond what he intended.

It started out innocently enough. Julius was having one of his playful moments, a bit too excited, perhaps, and in the midst of the fun, he bit down a little harder than usual. The moment it happened, though, you could see the regret in his eyes. He let go immediately, fluffing up and pacing on his perch, clearly aware that he’d messed up. Dad, ever patient, tried to downplay the pain, but Julius wasn’t fooled. He spent the rest of the day acting out of character—quiet, subdued, and giving Dad these soft, apologetic looks. Usually the life of the party, Julius stayed close to his cage, as if to give Dad some space. It was obvious that he felt bad, his usual mischievous demeanor replaced by a rare show of remorse. By the next day, things were back to normal. Julius was his playful self again, but with a little more caution when it came to roughhousing. The incident served as a reminder of just how sensitive and aware our feathered friends can be. Even when things go wrong, they understand, in their own way, the impact of their actions—and they care.

Julius may have felt bad, but it’s these moments that deepen our bond, showing us that even in the world of parrots, there’s room for a little guilt and a lot of love