Masturbation Found to Be Natural, Widespread Behavior Across Species

A study in *Ecology and Evolution* of 120 bird species across 22 orders found juveniles and adults, males and females masturbate, especially in the wild, indicating it is a normal part of avian sexual repertoires, not a stress response.

The Guardian

Prompted by a pet cockatiel’s self-stimulation, Dr Chloe Heys (Lancashire), Dr Kevin Arbuckle (Swansea), Dr Matilda Brindle (Oxford), Dr Tom Price (Liverpool) and Dr Ana Basto (Lancashire) collected reports from keepers, breeders and literature for 120 species. Masturbation, reported equally in juveniles and adults and linked to promiscuous mating, was more common in wild birds and higher in parent-reared than hand-reared captive birds.

Study reveals that without a reliable mate birds do what comes naturally

The authors propose the behaviour may be a non-adaptive byproduct of high sexual drive or an adaptive way to boost female arousal for sneak matings. Recognising it as normal challenges punitive husbandry and supports welfare-friendly care.

Study reveals that without a reliable mate birds do what comes naturally

Veterinarians welcomed the data. Dr Ana Basto called the research “pivotal” as holistic. Dr Matilda Brindle warned that discouraging the act often leads to invasive interventions. Dr Kevin Arbuckle noted the study’s novelty for birds and advised limiting intervention to rare medical issues such as prolapse. Guidelines have recommended perch removal, reduced tactile contact, hormone therapy or surgical desexing—practices unnecessary for most birds.

The Guardian

Earlier publications described avian masturbation as absent or captivity-induced; the new survey contradicts that view. Because the study relies on expert recollections and online reports, precise prevalence across all taxa remains uncertain, prompting calls for systematic field observation.

The Guardian

• “Our big finding is that masturbation is not a negative response to captivity,” — Dr Chloe Heys, Evolutionary Ecologist, University of Lancashire

The Guardian

• “There have even been cases of surgery to completely de-sex birds, which is bonkers.” — Dr Chloe Heys, Evolutionary Ecologist, University of Lancashire

The Guardian

• “This research is pivotal and will be a step towards achieving a more holistic understanding of why and how birds behave the way they do.” — Dr Ana Basto, Veterinarian, University of Lancashire

The Guardian

• “Co-author Dr Kevin Arbuckle, from Swansea University’s Department of Biosciences, said: “Although it may seem a frivolous area of research, masturbation is biologically interesting as it forms a Darwinian puzzle – a trait that appears at face value to reduce the fitness of the creature which possesses it.” — Dr Kevin Arbuckle, Evolutionary Biologist, Swansea University

Study reveals that without a reliable mate birds do what comes naturally

• “The fact that masturbation seems to be even more common in wild birds than those in captivity has huge implications for their welfare, especially given that folk husbandry often advises bird keepers to discourage or punish this behaviour, sometimes even resorting to surgery and hormonal interventions,” — Dr Matilda Brindle, Evolutionary Biologist, Oxford University

The Guardian

The team will study female sexual motivation, its relevance to breeding programmes for endangered species, and conduct broader field work to quantify the behaviour across understudied taxa.

Study reveals that without a reliable mate birds do what comes naturally