Wild Cockatoos Learn Safe Foods by Copying Peers, Study Finds

A study published on April 30 in PLOS Biology highlights how wild sulfur-crested cockatoos in Sydney, Australia, learn from one another to safely try new foods. Led by behavioral ecologist Julia Penndorf from the University of Exeter, the research observed 705 cockatoos from five different groups. In two spots, four birds were taught to eat unshelled almonds painted red or blue. Once these birds showcased their eating habits, the researchers introduced both colors to the rest of the community. Naive birds quickly adopted the preferred color on the first day, while those in areas without trained birds started later, likely influenced by watching others. Ultimately, 349 cockatoos were eating the dyed almonds, and males were notably more influenced by other males. This study shows that social learning significantly aids these birds in adapting to urban life. Michael Chimento from the University of Zurich noted that younger cockatoos adjust their behavior based on their peers, similar to how we change our eating habits. Understanding this could help other parrot species thrive in human-altered environments.