Parrots may be possessive, self-centered and jealous,...

Parrots may be possessive, self-centered and jealous, but they’re not birdbrains, Christine Davis says. And they don’t want to be treated like dogs, either.

Davis, who bills herself as an “avian behaviorist” and is known as the Bird Lady, counsels owners of parrots and other birds by telephone from her roost in Sierra Madre. She also writes for Bird World and Bird Talk magazines and lectures on bird behavior.

She will appear Friday through Sunday at America’s Family Pet Show at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona.

Davis said people who acquire a parrot often secretly hope their new pet will actually behave more like “a truly great dog.” What they get instead, she said, is a pet who is far more sophisticated than they imagine.

To understand your parrot, Davis said, think of the bird as a 2-year-old child. Like a toddler, a parrot becomes impatient and noisy if neglected.

Her tips on getting along with birds include this warning about the bird’s-eye view: never put the bird cage too high. A bird who sits above the human members of its flock will think it has superior social status and act accordingly, Davis said.

Besides advice on birds, America’s Family Pet Show will feature 100 breeds of dogs, rare felines, exotic fish, elephant rides and new pet products.

The show will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults and free to children 12 and under.