Cockatoo Tells Mom 'I Love You' and People Everywhere Are Melting
Cockatoos are one of, if not my favorite, animals to watch on the internet. I love to look at them and think about how much I'd love to have one of them, only to know for certain that I absolutely cannot.
They're so cute, though! Just look at this Cockatoo: he loves his mom so much that he made sure to tell her out loud. He doesn't want to leave anything unsaid, and his mom is so grateful:
@buddythebirdcockatoo Buddy's new thing is responding, "I love you too"… I freaking love it! #cockatoo#cockatoolife#cockatoos#cockatoosoftik @Gina Stein
original sound - Buddy the bird - Buddy the bird
Buddy the Cockatoo is a man of few words, but the words he knows are the ones that really matter. When his mom says, "I love you, Buddy," he always responds, "Love you, too!" It feels like he really knows and understands what she's saying.
Luckily for him, he gets to say his new favorite words all the time. She tells him she loves him often (because she loves him), so it's pretty easy for him. He gets lots of practice!
Related: These Precious Wild Cockatoos 'In Love' Are Just Like an Old Married Couple
Buddy, like any Cockatoo, isn't sweet all the time. Sometimes, his mom tries to be nice and sweet with him, but he's just not having it! Case in point, when he blew her a kiss, and she decided to blow one back:
@buddythebirdcockatoo Buddy is losing his mind… he came over and gave me a kiss after he blew one and I blew one back… #cockatoolife#cockatoosoftik#buddythebirdcockatoo @Gina Stein
original sound - Buddy the bird - Buddy the bird
Even the sweetest boys lose their minds sometimes. Buddy is no exception, even if he makes up for it after by telling Mom he loves her.
Communication or Connection? Why Birds Like Buddy Choose Specific Phrases to Bond With Their Humans
Buddy has lots of things he says to his mom, but "I love you/love you too" are the most common full phrases she hears from him. It's adorable, but what does it actually mean?
Birds, and Cockatoos in particular, can form strong emotional attachments to their favorite humans. They're very social birds who thrive best with affectionate families, and they show love in lots of ways. However, words aren't really one of them.
If a Cockatoo is saying "I love you" a lot, it's because:
- They hear you say it.
- They're mimicking you.
- They know you like it (because you react positively).
Essentially, with birds, it's very much "show, don't tell," but it's really nice when they do both!
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM.