LETTING BUDGIES HEAD EXTEND
After your bird has relaxed, the position of your hand can be changed to allow his head and neck to extend out of your hand as long as your hand still encircles his body. With your Budgies head exposed you can now begin to caress his head.

Finger Function Like Another Bird's Beak
Birds cannot preen the feathers on their own head and neck, so they depend upon other birds doing it. Mutual preening also becomes an Important social activity involving status and respect. In the hierarchy of birds it's a compliment to be preened by another bird.

Birds accept Our Involvement in preening just as if it were done by the beak of another bird. We can become friends of birds, then, by using our fingers to preen, caress, scratch and touch lovingly.

The actions are well understood and deliver a message: "Trust me. I'll preen your feathers to show I like you."