Overview
- The peer-reviewed study led by Chloe Heys, published Tuesday, assembled observations for 120 bird species and concluded that self-stimulatory behaviour is widespread rather than a captivity-only oddity.
- Researchers compiled reports from scientific literature, avian experts, breeders, owners and online communities to build a multi-source dataset while noting observational limits such as an over-representation of parrots.
- Masturbation was recorded in both males and females and showed no clear difference between juveniles and adults, which challenges ideas that the behaviour is only for sperm renewal or practice.
- The behaviour was more common in species with promiscuous mating systems and was reported more often in wild birds, suggesting links to sexual arousal or reproductive competition rather than stress from captivity.
- Authors and commentators urge vets and owners to avoid unnecessary medical or surgical interventions, recommend reassurance in most cases, and call for targeted experimental research to test functional hypotheses.