On the subject of rubbing!

Question
Hello Maggie.  I have a 3 year old blue wing macaw and it was to be by husbands bird.  Well I feed it and she stands on my wrist.  The question I have is she will step up on the arm then swing her tail feathers around and rub her butt on my arm.  She will lick my hand and rub her butt across my arm back and forth.  My husband tried to tell me that means she is ready to mate.  But I just felt she is showing her affection.  Could you please tell me what that means?

Answer
You and your husband are both right.... she is actually really likes you- she/he wants to mate with you.

It by no means that the bird needs a bird-mate, this is just a strange way birds sometimes show their affection when they are "in the mood"... sometimes they will also throw food up to you as a sign of affection too. :)

-Maggie