This behavior is not unusual in hand-raised parrots, who bond to one individual. We isolate them from others of their kind for their entire lives, and then we’re surprised when they feel grief after the only other living creature they’re attached to dies.
Interesting somewhat off topic comment.
The birth control shot Depo-Provera has actually been given to captive penguins to promote their molting process.
Itis sad, though. Parrots are vey smart and do bond to their human. Many of them will just pick themselves to death, slowly and painfully.
Alas, the drugs just came too late. (sniff...sniff)
He is obviously in no way bonded to the widow or she would be able to comfort the bird. She should attempt to find someone the bird will respond to and give them the bird. He will grieve, but not as severely and will bond to the new owner.
My hubby has a real touch with birds, every one he has ever been around has made friends with him and the one we had bonded to him right away. We have been in pet stores with mean birds that they can’t sell because they are so mean- they will even interact with hubby and not bite him. Many times pet store owners have offered to sell him this kind of bird at a discount- but they are still out of our “bird budget” so we don’t buy them. I have no idea what happens to these problem birds- but if people or pet shops cared about them they would give them to people the bird “chooses” and it would be great.