🪶 Birds masturbate. 🦜 This is normal, and not (as often is believed) a maladaptive behaviour only found in captivity. 🍑 Pet bird owners - chill, and let your budgie have some fun. 🧪 Study of masturbation in 120 bird species, by @matildabrindle.bsky.social: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Masturbation in pet birds is natural and shouldn't be punished. A new study led by @unilancashire.bsky.social and coauthored by Oxford's  @matildabrindle.bsky.social  say vets and owners should be reassured that it is not the consequence of captivity, but common.  Read more:

Masturbation in pet birds is natural and should not be punished

bit.ly

Birds masturbate, and that’s perfectly normal 🐦 Our piece in The Conversation is out now about our latest research, the evolution of masturbation in birds: theconversation.com/birds-mastur...

Birds masturbate, and that’s perfectly normal

Some bird keepers have tried to drug their animals to stop them engaging in solo sex.

theconversation.com

Birds masturbate? What?! Our research, published in Ecology and Evolution is out now, and featured today in The Guardian 🌟

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 4mo ago

Masturbation among birds is ‘natural’ and should not be punished, say experts