Australian study uncovers cockatoos' 30 distinct dance moves

CANBERRA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Australian researchers found captive cockatoos perform at least 30 distinct dance moves, showcasing complex and varied behaviors.

Experts from Australia's Charles Sturt University (CSU) studied cockatoo dance behavior through online videos and a zoo playback experiment, identifying new moves such as head-banging, sidestepping, and body rolls, according to the study published on Thursday.

The team analyzed 45 social media videos of different cockatoo species and identified 17 previously undescribed dance moves performed with or without music, said the study's lead researcher Natasha Lubke at CSU.

Some birds combined movements into unique routines, showing complex, varied dance behavior across species, according to the study published in the online journal PLOS One (Public Library of Science).

Closely related species did not have more similar dances; each species showed a unique top 10 set of common dance moves, it said.

Researchers said certain parrot species, including cockatoos, dance to music in captivity, involving complex brain functions like imitation and rhythm. This spontaneous behavior is rare and mainly seen in humans and parrots, but its cause in captive birds remains unclear.

A follow-up experiment with six cockatoos at Wagga Wagga Zoo in Australia's New South Wales found all birds danced whether music, a podcast, or silence was played, indicating music may not be necessary to trigger dancing.

At least 10 of 21 cockatoo species regularly dance, a behavior likely evolved from courtship displays and possibly redirected to human interaction as play linked to positive welfare, researchers said.

"The work suggests that playing music to parrots may provide a useful approach to enrich their lives in captivity, with positive effects on their welfare," Lubke said. ■