Sydney Cockatoos Learn New Foods By Watching Others

Over 349 Sydney cockatoos learned to eat almonds in just 10 days by watching others. This is a fast change in behavior.
By Newsroom | Animals, Australia |

Sulphur-crested cockatoos in Sydney exhibit a cautious approach to novel food sources, learning to identify edible items by observing others within their social groups.

Researchers documented a striking pattern of behavior in wild cockatoos concerning almonds, a food previously unfamiliar to many of the birds. Initially, the vast majority of these parrots steered clear of the offerings. However, this reticence dramatically shifted after a few individuals sampled the almonds.

  • The adoption of this new food was rapid, with 349 birds observed consuming almonds over a 10-day period.

  • This spread of behavior highlights the power of social learning in wild populations.

  • In one instance, after a single parrot, accustomed to eating almonds from another community, began consuming them, 15 other cockatoos joined in within 10 minutes.

  • The influence was even swifter in other locations, with curious birds trying the almonds within seven minutes in one roost and less than one minute in another.

Gendered Learning Dynamics

The study also suggested a difference in how the parrots processed this social information. Female parrots appeared more inclined to alter their foraging habits based on what they saw others doing, irrespective of the observer's age or sex.

Scope of the Investigation

The findings stem from observations of over 700 wild sulphur-crested cockatoos spread across five distinct roosting communities in central Sydney. The experiment was designed to ascertain if these wild birds employed similar social learning strategies observed in controlled settings.

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Further context: The idiom "birds of a feather flock together" suggests that like individuals associate. This research probes a deeper aspect of this adage, exploring how shared behaviors, particularly concerning survival-critical choices like food selection, propagate within these avian communities. While one article touched on the cultural and historical significance of eating birds, and another explored the evolutionary basis of colorful plumage in birds-of-paradise for courtship displays, these tangential points do not directly inform the observed foraging adaptation in cockatoos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did Sydney cockatoos learn to eat almonds?
Researchers found that wild cockatoos in Sydney learned to eat almonds by watching other birds in their groups. This social learning happened very quickly.
Q: How fast did the cockatoos start eating almonds?
After a few birds tried almonds, many others joined in. In one case, 15 cockatoos started eating almonds within 10 minutes of seeing one bird eat them.
Q: Did female cockatoos learn differently?
The study suggests female parrots were more likely to change their eating habits after seeing others eat new foods, no matter who was doing the observing.
Q: How many birds were studied?
The study looked at over 700 wild sulphur-crested cockatoos living in five different groups in central Sydney.
Q: What does this study show about cockatoos?
It shows that wild cockatoos use social learning to find new food sources, which is important for their survival and adaptation to new environments.