Hyperactive Hummingbird
More Details
This excitable bird finds it hard to be still
Feet tapping, wings fluttering, thoughts still going long after the day is done
Sometimes you can see the movement
Sometimes the activity is happening beneath an outwardly calm exterior
Hyperactivity can look like:
- Fidgeting, pacing, or hands always being busy
- Talking a lot
- Feeling restless when you have to sit still
- Being constantly on the go
- Finding it difficult to unwind, even when exhausted
For many people with ADHD, the urge to keep moving can be uncomfortable and difficult to regulate. And being visibly busy doesn’t mean having energy to spare
ADHD involves differences in brain networks that help regulate attention, activity, and response. Dopamine and noradrenaline, chemical messengers involved in alertness, motivation, and attention, are part of this picture
Holding that movement in takes effort. A bird who has learnt to sit still may be working really hard on doing that
Fidgeting or pacing may help someone stay with a conversation or task
You can’t measure their attention by how little they move
How to make room for the Hummingbird
If you’re alongside this bird:
- Ask what helps, and make support easy to access
- Offer choices – sitting, standing, moving
- Plan shorter stretches of listening & regular breaks
- Check understanding don’t assume they’re not listening
- Don’t treat their activity as a reason to give them more work
- …And don’t judge it
- Provide and encourage use of fidgets as sensory aids
If you’re a hummingbird:
- Notice what helps you engage – standing, doodling, fidgets, walking while you think
- Build in movement breaks, before getting overwhelmed
- Explore what is restful for you – gentle movement may feel more settling than forcing yourself to ‘relax’ sitting still
- Take exhaustion seriously, even when your body keeps going
Make room for movement. Respect need for rest.
Hyperfocused Hawk
More Details
This bird sat down to ‘just check one thing…’
6 hours later:
Project finished
Inbox Cleared
Rabbit hole explored
Forgot lunch, water, and bathroom breaks!
The Hyperfocused Hawk locks onto its target with laser precision. Hours pass like minutes, distractions fade away, and what looks impossible to others becomes achievable. This is the gift of hyperfocus, a state where neurodivergent brains can produce extraordinary depth, creativity, and progress. Whether it’s solving a problem, writing code, or perfecting a project, the Hawk shows what’s possible when attention is fully harnessed.
Of course, hyperfocus can have downsides, missed meals, forgotten breaks, or losing track of time. But those challenges don’t erase the power of what hyperfocus can create.
Supporting the Hawk means…
Channelling the Focus with projects that benefit from depth and detail
Allowing uninterrupted time blocks where focus can flow naturally
Supporting transitions, building in gentle external cues and check-ins, with natural stop points to make shifting tasks easier
Protecting wellbeing, with reminders to pause for food, water, and movement and encouraging recovery time after deep focus sessions
Valuing the gift, recognise hyperfocus as a strength, not a flaw, many breakthroughs are Hawk-powered!
Avoiding framing it as obsession or distraction
Because with the right supports, hyperfocus can supercharge creativity, innovation, and problem-solving without burning out the bird behind it.
Rejection Sensitive Robin
More Details
A raised eyebrow
A late reply
A joke taken the wrong way
For this bird, even small moments can feel like rejection – sharp, real, and painful
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is an intense emotional sensitivity and physical pain triggered by the perception (or misperception) of rejection, criticism, or failure. It’s associated with ADHD, but also recognised by many other neurodivergent people with heightened emotional sensitivity.
The reaction is often far stronger than the situation might warrant from an outside perspective. Even small or imagined rejections can feel devastating.
A lifetime of being misunderstood, criticised, or excluded can condition the brain to expect rejection. This creates a feedback loop where perceived slights trigger disproportionate distress.
How to help a RSD Robin
- Offer reassurance without dismissing their feelings
- Deliver feedback with clarity and kindness
- Encourage self-compassion alongside external support
- Offer reassurance of value and belonging.
- Understand that strong reactions are about sensitivity, not manipulation.
When the RSD Robin is validated and secure, it shifts the internal narrative from ‘I’m too sensitive’, to ‘I’m okay’
Robins: What’s one thing you wish others understood about rejection sensitivity?
PDA Parrot
More Details
Pervasive Drive for Autonomy / Pathological Demand Avoidance isn’t laziness or defiance, it’s a deep need for self-determination.
Sometimes the smallest request feels impossible.
PDA has been understood as part of the autism spectrum, however many non-autistic neurodivergent people describe having recurring PDA experiences.
PDA shows up as extreme anxiety around demands and expectations, even everyday ones like getting dressed or sending an email.
This can even include internal bodily demands like using the bathroom or drinking water.
It’s not defiance. It’s not laziness. It’s not deliberate. It’s a nervous system response where demands feel threatening.
The PDA Parrot’s favourite word? “Nope.”
How to help a PDA Parrot
- Give choices, not commands
- Use collaboration and curiosity instead of control
- Lower pressure and keep things playful
- Offer indirect prompts (‘I wonder if…’ instead of ‘Do this now’)
- Don’t expect logic or reason-based arguments to override the nervous-system response
When the PDA Parrot feels safe and in control, its colours really shine
Do you know a PDA Parrot, or are you one yourself?
People Pleasing Penguin
More Details
This little bird just wants everyone to be happy… even if it means forgetting about itself.
It says “yes” when it’s tired
“sure” when it’s overwhelmed
and “I’m fine” when it isn’t
This little bird finds it hard to say no.
Always smiling, always agreeable, even when exhausted.
Often rooted in fear of rejection or conflict, or a deep need to be liked and accepted.
Can look like always saying yes, overextending, or suppressing true feelings to keep the peace.
Comes from survival: masking, fawning, or over-accommodating as a way to feel safe.
Here are some supportive, practical ways to help a People-Pleasing Penguin
- Remind them they’re valued even when they say no
- Ask what they want, not just what helps others
- Celebrate honesty, not just compliance
- Gently check in if they seem overwhelmed, even if they’re still saying yes.
Helping a Penguin isn’t about forcing them to stop caring. Their kindness is a gift. Help them find balance in caring for others and themselves, without fear of losing love or acceptance.
Do you know a Penguin who needs a reminder that their worth isn’t tied to saying yes?
Overwhelmed Ostrich
More Details
This misunderstood bird sticks its head in the sand, not because it doesn’t care, but because everything has become too much
It Withdraws.
Avoids.
Melts down.
For the Ostrich, overwhelm happens when too many demands, sensory inputs, or emotions stack up faster than the brain can process. It’s not a choice – it’s a system overload.
Fight, flight, freeze, fawn, flop are all ways the overwhelm may show up.
Overwhelm can come from…
Sensory input: noise, lights, or movement
Executive function: too many tasks or unclear priorities
Emotional intensity: conflict, rejection, or stress
When this happens, it often looks like shutting down, becoming irritable or tearful, or avoiding until the storm passes
Here are some gentle, practical ways to help an Overwhelmed Ostrich
- Reduce demands, slow the pace, and break things down
- Offering calm and quiet, rather than more questions, makes a huge difference
- Giving permission to pause without shame allows the Ostrich to recover
- Reassurance of safety and belonging helps them return when they’re ready
Overwhelm isn’t weakness. It’s the brain’s way of saying, I’ve hit capacity. When the Ostrich feels safe enough they’ll come back up and rejoin the flock.
What helps you most when you hit overwhelm?
Creative Cockatoo
More Details
Every stick is an instrument
Every problem begets a new invention
Every blank page is a new possibility
Creativity isn’t hard for this bird, it’s how its brain works
Big. Bold. Messy. Brilliant.
Like the Cockatoo, neurodivergent minds often think in patterns, metaphors, or unexpected connections
Where others see one path, the Cockatoo sees ten…
And builds bridges between them
What it looks like:
- Bursts of original ideas
- Unusual problem-solving approaches
- Artistic expression in music, words, or visuals
- Innovation that comes from seeing the world differently
Creativity isn’t a hobby, it’s how many neurodivergent brains naturally connect the dots
How you can help a Cockatoo to thrive, so the whole flock flourishes
- Value how ideas are generated, not just the polished end product
- Allow space for experiments without fear of failure
- Pair creativity with structures that capture and channel it
- Celebrate difference instead of conformity
Neurodivergent creativity isn’t a bonus feature, it’s often inherent. When we make room for it, the flock gains solutions and perspectives that wouldn’t exist otherwise. Give the Cockatoo room to play, and watch the magic happen.
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve ever turned into something creative?
Literal Lorikeet
More Details
This bird takes things exactly as they’re said.
Jokes, sarcasm, vague instructions, all get lost in translation.
Literal doesn’t mean lacking imagination. It means clarity is key to making meaning.
Literal communication, often present in autism, isn’t a flaw, it’s a different style of language use. Problems usually arise not from the literal communicator, but from a world built on hidden rules, vague expectations, and unspoken norms.
Ambiguity like “drop by anytime” may leave Lorikeets unsure of what is actually expected or accepted.
They may be perceived as too honest, or lacking diplomacy. But from the Lorikeet perspective, they’re being clear and respectful by removing hidden meanings.
Neurotypical birds can assume a hidden agenda, when in fact the Lorikeet believes they’ve been very clear.
There is a sense of being deliberately misunderstood when others misinterpret straightforward speech.
How to help a Literal Lorikeet
- Say what you mean. Avoid relying on subtext or vague wording
- Check understanding directly instead of assuming they picked up the hint
- Normalise directness, guide it toward clarity instead of shutting it down
- Make implicit rules explicit (“when we say X, what we really mean is Y”)
When the Literal Lorikeet feels understood, its clarity lifts the whole flock
Can you think of a Lorikeet moment where you misunderstood because someone wasn’t clear?
Cluster Duck
More Details
This bird looks calm on the surface, while paddling furiously underneath.
Mask on. Smile on.
Holding it together – just – navigating change, stress, and uncertainty that others may never see.
For many neurodivergent people, Cluster ducks aren’t caused by a lack of effort or capability. They’re what happen when unexpected change, disrupted routines, emotional load, and the pressure to keep functioning all collide at once.
Under the surface, this little duck is masking their struggles with:
Systems and routines being disrupted
A nervous system already stretched thin
A deep desire to keep contributing, even when it costs them dearly
Sometimes the most important self-care isn’t doing more, it’s stepping back, re-establishing psychological safety, and refilling the cup.
That can look like changing roles, resetting routines, or simply admitting that this season is hard.
- You can be paddling like mad and doing meaningful, impactful work.
- You can be exhausted and deeply committed to helping others.
Both things can be true.
We see people’s public achievements, but we don’t always see below the waterline.
Kindness costs nothing and it might be exactly what keeps someone afloat.
If you’re in a Cluster Duck season: you’re not failing, you’re surviving.
If you’re supporting someone who is: kindness is easy and it matters more than you know.
Timeblind Toucan
More Details
This bird is not ignoring the clock.
They are not careless, flaky, or ‘just bad at planning’.
They are living in a brain with 2 time settings:
Now and Not Now…
And the 2 are not always in sync.
For some neurodivergent people, time is unreliable and non-linear.
Time blind brains struggle to accurately feel, track, or estimate time.
It looks like lateness, overcommitting, losing hours, underestimating tasks, or getting stuck in
‘just one more thing’.
Managing time uses multiple processes at once:
Attention, working memory, task initiation, sequencing, transition management, and the ability to estimate how long things actually take.
‘Soon’ becomes an hour.
Plans beyond ‘tomorrow’ often overlap.
Shame and disappointment accompany each failure.
Help the Timeblind Toucan by making time visible – externalising the systems and structures that keep them on track
- Use countdowns, visual timers and clocks
- Build in buffer time and clear transition cues
- Give clear start and finish points
- Body double with them
- Send reminders, not criticism
- Ask “What would make time easier to see?”
And please remember,
Time blindness is not a failure to try or to care.
The Toucan tries hard and cares deeply.
They just need support that works with their brain, rather than judging it.
What helps you to make time visible when you’re flying off-course?
Anxious Albatross
More Details
The Anxious Albatross flies high with ideas, but its wings are heavy with what-ifs.
What if I mess up?
What if something goes wrong?
What if something terrible happens?
For the Albatross, anxiety isn’t limited to self-doubt or performance. It can be about the world itself. Unpredictability, uncertainty, and the thousand tiny details their brain tracks automatically.
Catastrophising isn’t the Albatross being dramatic, it’s forecasting every possible danger in vivid detail. And feeling responsible or powerless for stopping them all.
It stems from a brain that’s constantly scanning for danger, hyper-aware of patterns, tone, and risk. After years of unpredictability, misunderstanding, and sensory overload, the nervous system learns to expect threat, even when it isn’t there.
It often shows up as constant overthinking – replaying personal mistakes and worrying about global events. The mind and body stay on high alert, leading to exhaustion, tension, restlessness, or shutting down completely when it all feels too much.
How you can help…
- Don’t try to rationalise when anxiety is spiralling
- Give space to breathe, and breathe with them
- Reassure without dismissing
- Believe this is real, not silly, and validate them
- Learn grounding techniques, such as 5,4,3,2,1
The Albatross doesn’t worry because it’s weak. It worries because it cares deeply, thoroughly, and with imagination that never switches off
With understanding, its vigilance transforms into foresight, and flight patterns can be rewritten
What helps your Albatross land when it starts to spiral?
Queer Quail
More Details
The Queer Quail is here for Neurodiversity Pride Day, 16 June
Queer Quail represents the overlap between neurodivergent and queer identities.
Because these identities do not always sit in separate boxes.
Many neurodivergent people are also queer, transgender, gender diverse, questioning, or still finding the safest language for who they are. Many queer people are also neurodivergent, diagnosed or not.
Research est. 30-70% of neurodivergent people also identify as queer. While transgender and gender-diverse people are around 3 to 6 times more likely to be autistic than cisgender people.
That overlap matters.
Because safety, belonging and self-understanding are connected.
What it looks like…
You might see the Queer Quail:
- Masking neurodivergence in queer spaces
- Masking queerness in neuroinclusive spaces
- Being told they don’t belong in either community
- Needing sensory safety, identity safety, and psychological safety at the same time
- Feeling safest with people who accept every part of their identity without requiring ‘proof’
The Quail reminds us that Pride is not just celebration. Sometimes Pride is the moment you stop making yourself smaller to make others more comfortable.
How to be an Ally…
- Do not make people choose which identity is most valid
- Do not make them prove they are either queer or neurodivergent ‘enough’ to belong
- Build spaces where people can be queer and neurodivergent without having to perform, translate, justify or disclose before they are supported
- Use inclusive language
- Offer sensory access
- Respect names, pronouns, communication needs and privacy
Intersectionality is not an extra layer of inclusion…It is where real inclusion begins.
Happy Neurodiversity Pride Day
Dysregulated Drake
More Details
Sometimes emotions feel bigger than the body can hold.
Flapping, shouting, tears
Dysregulation isn’t misbehaviour, it’s a nervous system calling for help
Emotional Dysregulation is the difficulty a person experiences in managing, controlling, or recovering from strong emotional responses. It’s common in ADHD, autism, trauma, and other neurodivergent or mental health contexts.
Repeated misunderstandings, microaggressions, or sensory overload can lower resilience, making regulation harder in the moment. Executive function difficulties with planning makes pausing before reacting even more challenging.
The nervous system struggles to return to baseline once activated. Emotions spill over or linger longer than expected.
Over time this can lead to shame, damaged realtionships, or burnout.
How to help a Dysregulated Drake
- Stay calm and steady, don’t escalate alongside them
- Offer space, sensory tools, or a quiet reset
- Understand this is a panic or ‘fight’ response, so logic and reason will add to the overwhelm
- Validate the emotion before rushing to fix the problem “I can see this is really hard”
- Offer predictable routines and clear communication to reduce triggers
Supporting a Drake to regulate builds relationship and trust.
It isn’t just about one bird, it’s about creating calmer classrooms, kinder families, and stronger teams.
What helps you find calm when you feel dysregulated?
Masking Mynah
More Details
Masking happens when being yourself does not feel safe.
The Mynah hides, suppresses or edits parts of themselves to seem more acceptable, capable, or ‘normal’ to others.
They perform ‘neurotypicality’ to fit in with the flock, but behind the mask…
Mynahs mask to avoid judgement, stigma, rejection, conflict, punishment, exclusion, bullying, being misunderstood, or being seen as too much, difficult, or ‘unprofessional’.
This can look like forcing eye contact, copying social behaviour, hiding stims, suppressing sensory distress, rehearsing conversations, over-explaining, or pretending to be okay when they are not.
Many neurodivergent people learn early that acceptance feels conditional. So they adapt, camouflage, and perform in order to get through.
It is often mistaken for thriving, or ‘high-functioning’. The problem is that long-term masking can be incredibly draining. It can disconnect people from their needs, delay support, and contribute to stress, burnout, and poor wellbeing.
How to help a Mynah…
To support less masking, create more safety:
- Make expectations clear and explicit – do not assume unspoken social protocols and norms are known
- Offer communication and participation choices
- Do not punish or ridicule different communication strengths
- Respect sensory and processing needs
- Notice when someone shows discomfort or uncertainty in new environments
- Do not try to force unmasking or ‘bringing your whole self’, as this can be unsafe if boundaries are not known
- Judge capability, not likeability
When Mynahs feel safe to choose how they show up, they do not have to stay hidden to belong. They feel empowered, not exposed, and their true selves can finally soar.