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My ringneck is 5 months old. He (I don't know for sure ) rubs his beak on his perches and between the bars on the cage and other times along his rope type toys. Is he scratching or cleaning? or does he just like the feel of doing it?

All 3 (yes we hav 3 now) do that, half the time to get food off their beaks. I think they like the feel too. One of my birds used to do it to me when I was a kid, but I can't remember which one.

Keep an eye on him when he gets a little older (8 months or so) and see if s/he starts rubbing the beak on flat surfaces, then flaring his wings out.

Thats male behavior and its, from what I understand, correct me if Im wrong, undenyable... females simply dont do that.

Its almost as good as a DNA test. lol

Marley does that, and wot Mikaela described on the flat surfaces. Natalie xxxx

I've seen a group 5 year old female IRNs that that exact thing...they would rubbed their beaks against a surface and flare their wings. I ever asked the breeder if they were young males and she said nope. Thye were her own birds...doing male behaviours. Weird huh?

Dani and Prinny

At this stage all 3 of ours are girls, (wil find out with Coco). I've seen all parrots from budgies through to Sulphur crested cockatoos do it and they havn't all been male. I think u can take a pick as to why they do it. Scratching, getting rid of food, sexual behaviour or just 'cos it feels good. Anyone seen a cow just about knock a tree over to get rid of a scratch?

I have definite females that rub their beaks like that. I think it just feels good for them. Their beaks are surprisingly very sensitive and they enjoy rubbing it same way as we like a back scratch. Chook particularly loves it when he puts his beak between my lips and i blow raspberries on it.

My girls do that also. I don't think that particular type thing is gender related. i have also heard that only males display, but at least one of my females will display to me.

i have males and females that do this behavior but only the male rubs on a flat surface spreads his wings and pinns his eyes!

indie and cookie both do that.sometimes indie does it on the picture that is hanging on the wall behind his cage and it sounds like someone knocking on the door.

I'm waiting for my IRN to saw her cage in two she does it soooo much!

Generally, they are just marking their territory.
But most birds after eating fruit will get a sticky beak and rub the perches to clean their beaks.

What surfer and Jeremy said.

Not just the rubbing, they must be pinning with wings flared for it to be 'male behavior'.

Like we scratch all birds rub their beaks.

If left undisturbed, the males dance for about 10 minutes at a time and seem to be in a 'trance like' state when doing it.

Actually Smokey has just started some unusual behaviour along with the beak rubbing. He kind of makes himself a like a bulldozer along the floor. Sometimes pushing an object with his beak that he can't carry but sometimes just for the sake of it.He also goes into a world of his own, seemingly dancing but definately waltzing all over the place, looked like he was also putting in some rap dancing there as well. His head was bobbing, wings semi flared, turning round now and then. He seemed to be doing this all for the sake of a specific toy which was also on the floor, he kept coming back to it and sort of nudging it during all this. I thought it was just his game. When I laughed he stopped and just picked up his toy and his whole behaviour changed. He went all quiet.

Actually, my girls will flare their wings and pin their eyes and display for me.

Indy, my oldest, is the only one that will really do, as I call it, "The Stevie Wonder". He seems to do it either for attention or when he likes something.

The beak rubbing may also be to keep the beak in shape - or hone it up to bite is with.