Wing clipping

These methods can have potential physical and psychological effects on birds, such as injury from falls, distress, and behavioral changes.

Molting in birds with clipped wings can expose their growing blood feathers, making them vulnerable to damage and excessive bleeding.

While clipping can prevent indoor accidents like hitting ceiling fans or windows, it also restricts the bird's mobility, exercise, and ability to escape fearful situations.

Wing clipping is usually performed by avian veterinarians, pet store employees, breeders, or the birds' owners themselves.

If performed correctly, it is a painless procedure[1] and is quite distinct from pinioning, which is carried out by amputation of the wing at the carpal joint.

So, larger birds, and those with a higher wing-loading, remain vulnerable to blood feather damage for a longer period, since they are moulting almost continually.

So, while a light clip allows downward flight indoors, it does not prevent a bird gaining lift if it should escape outdoors.

Where this behaviour is prevented by wing-clipping, this innate reflex action is denied the bird, and its fear does not subside.

[5] When a bird needs to reduce its speed during flight, it employs a 'reverse thrust' action by extending its wings vertically and using the drag of its primaries as air brakes.

It is generally considered very important for a young bird to be allowed to fledge (learn to fly) properly, prior to any wing clipping.

Others advocate for birds to be trained to respond to flight commands, mitigating the need for wing clipping[9] Some people feel wing clipping is a cruel or unhealthy practice, as it denies a bird its most natural way of getting around, obtaining exercise, and avoiding fearful situations.