Experts have concluded that masturbation among birds is a “natural” and healthy activity that should not be discouraged or punished by keepers.
A new study has revealed that such behaviour is not a result of captivity-induced stress but is actually more prevalent among birds in the wild, reports The Guardian.
The research, recently published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, provides significant relief for researchers, veterinarians, and bird owners alike. For years, bird keepers were often advised to intervene when birds engaged in self-pleasure, with some even resorting to punitive measures.
However, the report’s authors are now urging a shift in perspective, warning that interventions – ranging from the removal of perches to more extreme measures like hormone treatments and surgery – could be far more detrimental than the behaviour itself.
Dr Chloe Heys, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Lancashire in Preston and one of the study’s researchers, stated that the findings confirm masturbation is not a negative response to being caged.
“This is widespread in birds, and we found it’s a perfectly natural and healthy behaviour that’s part of their repertoire of sexual behaviours,” Dr Heys said.
Historically, researchers assumed birds only masturbated under the stress of captivity or did not engage in the practice at all.
To challenge these assumptions, the research team surveyed bird experts, breeders, and online enthusiast communities, combining these accounts with existing scientific literature.
In total, the team compiled data on 120 different bird species, observing the behaviour in both captive and wild settings.
The study found that “avian onanism” is common across various species, including parrots, turkeys, ducks, and chickens.
While accounts slightly favoured males, the behaviour was also widely documented in females.
According to Dr Heys, males typically rub vigorously against objects such as twigs, toys, perches, or even their owner’s hands and shoulders. Females were observed lifting their tails and backing onto convenient objects.
These acts were often accompanied by distinct vocalisations and wing flapping.
Despite the natural nature of the act, some hobbyists sought veterinary intervention out of fear that their pets might self-harm.
Dr Heys noted that some veterinarians had suggested disrupting the behaviour by avoiding stroking certain areas or removing toys. In “extreme cases,” birds were subjected to drug therapies or surgery to be de-sexed, which Dr Heys described as “bonkers”.
The study suggests that unless the activity causes a chronic physical issue, such as a prolapse – which occurs in only a small minority of cases – vets should not advise owners to stop it.
Dr Matilda Brindle, an evolutionary biologist at Oxford University and the study’s co-author, noted that the high frequency of this behaviour in the wild has “huge implications” for avian welfare, especially given that traditional husbandry often encourages punishment or medical intervention.
Dr Ana Basto, a veterinarian at the University of Lancashire who was not involved in the study, hailed the research as a “pivotal” step towards a more holistic understanding of avian behaviour, which will help professionals provide better guidance to owners.
