My Emma is nearly a year old. She is normally a very quiet bird.

The last couple of days she is having periods when she chirps continuously. It doesn't seem to matter whether she is in her cage or outside of it, whether I am in the room or not, whether she has fresh food or not. I have gone over to the cage and talked to her for several minutes, but it doesn't affect the chirping.

Also, a couple of times I have seen her very near the top of the cage, in the corner, holding onto to the bars on the two sides of the cage. She just stays up there for a few minutes.

I am curious what could be causing this. I can't figure out what she wants.

Between chirping periods, she is active and playing with her toys.

Nothing has changed recently. She shares a flight cage with Silver and a Piper, and they all get along well.

My birds are on thirteen hour nights.

Are their birds outside that she's trying to call? She could also be excited for some reason. On another forum, I saw a thread that a member said her bird keeps on screaming for no reason. There was no reply so I can't give you advise.

Is she agitated when she does this or does she seem content? Sometimes birds call because they want something, and other times they just sing because they're happy.

My Angelina started doing the same about one or two months ago.
She perches somewhere and starts chirping.
She is about same age as your Emma, I think they are reaching maturity.
Angie used to present to a couple of boys she fancied, when she came from the aviary, then she stopped with my great relief because she was really really young.
Now she seems like advertising that she's a big girl, but without chasing the boys.
Obviously this can be a complete movie I am running in my head and the reason for the chirping has nothing to do with it lol

What you say, Barbara, seems the most likely. She is not agitated, and I hear no birds outside (my windows are all closed).

I'm running a movie in my head also: She has realized that she is not a budgie (she used to mate with Piper), and is starting to have some very reserved interest in Silver, who has been singing to her, and who clearly likes her.