He covers me with his wings, and bites me with his bill.

A person may offer shelter or care while also causing harm. The protective gesture does not erase the injury that comes with it.

The proverb draws attention to the contradiction between someone’s reassuring behavior and their hurtful actions. It invites judgment by what the person does, not only by the safety they seem to promise.

Use it to describe someone whose help comes with mistreatment, especially when their protective behavior makes the harm harder to recognize. It emphasizes the contradiction rather than suggesting that every imperfect helper has bad intentions.