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That beak banging is a normal, common thing in male cockatiels......it's how Woody got his name! because he looks like a woodpecker when he does it! Woody still does this, although not as often. Usually when I hear the beak tapping, right afterwards he'll start singing happily. I think it's some kind of thing to get the attention of a mate.
As far as him getting on your hand in the cage.....I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think he'll get over it in time. I would just let him come out on his own and not put hands around him anymore for a while. It freaks some birds out. Woody used to be so scared of us and hands and everything for so long after we got him....now he could care less what I do....I can put my hands around him or whatever...handle him however I want and he knows I just have to hold him and luv him and give him kisses and that I always let him go pretty quickly. They learn in time! I think hands are one of the scariest things to birds and take a little longer to adjust to hands coming at them so just take it slow. Took almost a year for Woody to really warm up to us. Patience is always the key!

Some birds initially don't know how to socialize with their humans at first so they will do these things. it's normal
I have a tiel that I am bird sitting for now. The owner was concerned that "Princess doesn't like females". I think this tiel could sense her hestitation by acting nippy and cranky."Princess' did this to me too at first and I said to her ,"oh stop your nonsense" (in a calm voice) and she then hopped on my finger. She sits on my shoulder along with my other tiels. Perhaps she had to see the other tiels socializing with me first too.
As always patience...

bostonbudgie wrote: I think this tiel could sense her hestitation by acting nippy and cranky."Princess' did this to me too at first and I said to her ,"oh stop your nonsense" (in a calm voice)

Hahaha! You sound like me! My Ivy will put on this show to look scarey and when my boyfriend tries to pick her up, she'll sometimes open her beak to look all big and bad, but I know her enough to know that she would never bite him, so I say....Ohhhh, close that beak, you aren't going to use it!!!

Cockatiels are often all bluff and no bite, unless you seriously push them to the edge. Most of the time, they'd prefer to take flight than to confront, unless of course it's in a squabble with another tiel over food or perching spot. The "hissy fit" I get most often at night when the tiels don't want to be disturbed, which I don't blame them when they wanna go to sleep! It's their way of saying "I don't want to" or "Go away."

Personally, I'd recommend allowing Buddy to come out of his cage. Once he's out, ask him to step up, then reward him if he *DOES* step up. If he doesn't, then leave him be for a bit. Keep doing this, and the more he steps up willingly, and the more you reward him, then try the same behavior from inside the cage. The point is, is to *GIVE* him the choice to step up or not, but to make him realize that if he *DOES* step up, he gets rewarded for doing so!


Or rather... To give him the choice to do as he wants, rather than taking that choice away from him and forcing him to do what *we* want.

That's excellent advice from FIDS.
A little millet sprig goes a long way when you want to bribe them!

We both have a female bluehead, I wondered how she does with the other birds.....is she friends with any of them? maybe her and Buddy forming a friendship? How old is your Pi girl? Ivy is 2 1/2 How many lovebirds do you have?