Parrots like to feel in control, and to do this, they try to take the higher ground. If their head is above yours when they’re on your shoulder, then it’s likely they feel like the dominant in the situation.
By keeping a parrot on your arm or lap instead of on your shoulder, you can control what they do and better monitor their body language. Let’s say something spooks my cockatoo while he’s in my lap. I have no problem watching his reaction, and if he bites, he’ll bite my hand or arm. If he were in my shoulder, he could lash out at my face or ear without me having any way of predicting the action.
These are wild animals we live with, and they have the temperament of a wild animal. I trust my birds with everything in me, but I’m not going to put them in a position where they could accidentally injure me if they got scared. It’s safer for everyone to keep them off the shoulder and where you can watch them.
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