When the right beat plays, humans aren’t the only ones who can’t resist moving to the rhythm.
New research shows cockatoos have an impressive repertoire of dance moves. Just like people, each bird has its own signature style.
Dancing Birds With a Flair for Performance
A team from Charles Sturt University, led by zoologist Natasha Lubke, documented 30 distinct dance moves in cockatoos (Cacatuidae). These included head banging, sidestepping, body rolls, half-turns, and a unique fluffing motion that appears to be purely avian.
The moves were identified from 45 social media videos of cockatoos dancing and from direct observations of six birds at Wagga Wagga Zoo in Australia. The zoo cockatoos — representing three species — were played music, a podcast, and silence. Regardless of the audio, the birds moved with remarkable variety and energy.
One Bird, 17 Exclusive Moves
One standout cockatoo showcased 17 moves not performed by any other bird. The rest expressed themselves by mixing and matching different combinations of the 30 documented movements, suggesting a strong element of individual creativity.
Why Do Cockatoos Dance?
The exact reason remains unclear — much like the origins of human dancing.
Researchers believe the birds’ rhythmic movements could be an evolutionary remnant of courtship displays, now adapted for entertainment and self-expression.
Ethologist Rafael Freire, a co-author of the study, noted that the similarities to human dancing point to advanced cognitive and emotional abilities in parrots.
He added that playing music may also improve captive parrots’ welfare, serving as a form of environmental enrichment.
Implications for Animal Cognition and Welfare
The study, published in PLOS One, adds to growing evidence that some bird species possess complex motor skills, social awareness, and possibly a sense of rhythm.
The findings also suggest that incorporating music into the care of captive birds could enrich their environment, stimulate their minds, and encourage natural behaviours.
Cockatoos aren’t just mimics — they may also be creative movers, with dance styles as unique as their personalities. And just like us, when the beat hits, they can’t help but groove.
