Bird masturbation is a natural and widespread behaviour that should not be discouraged or punished, according to a new study that examined reports of self-plea...
Bird masturbation is a natural and widespread behaviour that should not be discouraged or punished, according to a new study that examined reports of self-pleasure among parrots and dozens of other bird species. Researchers say the findings challenge long-held assumptions that the behaviour is linked to stress or captivity and instead show it is a normal part of avian sexual behaviour.
The study was led by researchers from the University of Lancashire in Preston, who investigated reports of masturbation among both wild and captive birds. Their findings showed that the behaviour occurs across a wide range of species and is actually reported more often in wild birds than in those kept in captivity.
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Researchers said bird owners are often advised to stop or discourage the behaviour when they observe it in their pets. However, the study concluded that masturbation is not harmful in most cases and that efforts to intervene may have a negative impact on bird welfare.
Dr Chloe Heys, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Lancashire and one of the study’s authors, said the research found no evidence that masturbation was a sign of poor welfare or stress caused by captivity. Instead, she said it appears to be a natural part of the birds’ behavioural repertoire.
“Our big finding is that masturbation is not a negative response to captivity,” Heys said. “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.”
Heys noted that scientists historically tended to believe birds either did not masturbate or only engaged in the behaviour when under stress. She said observations from bird owners and researchers suggest otherwise. According to Heys, the behaviour is often easy to identify. “If you’ve ever seen a bird masturbate, you absolutely know what that bird is doing,” she said.
For the study, researchers surveyed bird experts and members of online communities that included bird keepers, breeders and enthusiasts. They combined those reports with information already available in scientific literature. In total, the team collected data involving 120 bird species from both wild and captive environments.
The research found evidence of masturbation among a wide variety of birds, including parrots, ducks, turkeys and chickens. While slightly more reports involved male birds, females were also frequently observed engaging in the behaviour. Researchers found that males often rubbed themselves against perches, toys, twigs or even parts of their owners’ bodies such as hands, feet or shoulders. Females commonly raised their tails and backed onto suitable objects.
The activity was sometimes accompanied by wing flapping and vocalisations that differed from the birds’ normal sounds. Heys said birds often appeared different after the behaviour, suggesting it served a purpose for them. The findings indicate that masturbation is not unusual but forms part of the broader range of sexual behaviours seen in birds.
Researchers also examined how bird owners and veterinarians respond when the behaviour is observed. Some owners reportedly sought veterinary assistance because they feared their birds could injure themselves. In some cases, veterinarians recommended removing perches or toys, avoiding physical contact in certain areas, or taking other steps designed to disrupt the behaviour.
Heys warned that some interventions can be far more harmful than the behaviour itself. She said there have been instances where birds were given drugs or hormonal treatments to stop masturbating. In more extreme situations, birds reportedly underwent surgical procedures aimed at eliminating sexual behaviour. The researchers argued that such measures are unnecessary in the vast majority of cases and should only be considered if a serious medical condition develops.
The findings were published in the journal Ecology and Evolution. Dr Ana Basto, a veterinarian at the University of Lancashire who was not involved in the study, said the research would help veterinary professionals provide more informed advice to bird owners. She described the work as an important step toward improving understanding of bird behaviour and welfare. Study co-author Dr Matilda Brindle, an evolutionary biologist at Oxford University, said the findings contribute to growing evidence that non-reproductive sexual behaviours occur throughout the animal kingdom. She added that the discovery that masturbation may be more common in wild birds than captive birds has important implications for animal welfare and challenges recommendations that encourage bird owners to punish or suppress the behaviour.
