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For some odd reason Wendell--now 13 years old--seemed absolutely terrified yesterday. He normally is a rather aggressive bird, but he has been cowering in the corners of his cage. If I take him out he rubs against me and just clings to me like a velcro bird.

When he was younger he would alternate between behaviour like that and aggression.

This morning he still seems terrified. He approached his food bowl cautiously and removed food morsels with his hands instead of putting his head down into the bowl. Once he had stuffed himself with food he retreated into the corner of the cage again.

I am trying to decide if I should hold him a lot or not. When he is out of the cage he acts even more frightened than when in it.

I'm presuming you have had him long enough to know him, and that you know that changes such as rearranging furniture or dying your hair or shaving off a beard can frighten a bird, and that you have ruled that out. That said, call your vet. And PLEASE keep us posted so we may learn from this as well.
Becky

Sounds like your friend is acting like my grey did after a Hawk flew at the window by her cage, you may want to ask your neighbors if they have seen any Hawks and call your vet. Good Luck. Parrotsmama1940

I wonder if a bird of prey did not fly by the window. Poor Wendell was terrified for about 24 hours, but now is his normal (destructive) self.

Cockatoos are very emotional creatures! I did wear bicycle shoes into the room that day, and he absolutely hates them. (That is also odd!) On other occasions when I wore them he attacked my feet!