Cockatoos can perform at least 30 dance moves including headbanging

By Stephen Beech

Cockatoos can perform at least THIRTY "distinct" dance moves - including headbanging and body rolls, according to new research.

The John Travoltas of the avian world combine their moves in "unique" ways, say scientists.

And the moves - of which 17 were newly identified - may be performed with or without music, according to the study published in the journal PLOS One.

Researchers say their findings indicate that playing music to pet cockatoos can improve their welfare.

Several species of parrot have previously been observed dancing to music in captivity.

Scientists previously found that dancing results from "complex" brain processes including imitation, learning and synchronised, rhythmic movement.

Spontaneous dancing in time to music has only been reported in humans and parrots, although some wild birds also display rhythmic movements as part of their courtship displays.

But what motivates captive birds to dance remains unclear.

Australian researchers analyzed 45 videos posted on social media that showed cockatoos dancing in captivity.

The newly identified dance moves included headbanging, sidesteps and body rolls.

The team found that some birds also performed their own individual dance moves, often by combining several of the movements in unique ways.

Closely related species did not display more similar dances, and each species had a "unique" top 10 most common dance moves.

The researchers then investigated dancing behavior in six cockatoos from three species housed at Wagga Wagga Zoo in Australia.

They played the birds music, an audio podcast, or no audio, and found that all birds performed dance moves, regardless of whether music was being played or not.

The study revealed that dancing behavior is present in at least 10 out of 21 species of cockatoo.

The researchers said that cockatoos appear to display a "wide repertoire" of dance moves, many of which are similar to the courtship displays of wild parrots.

They say it suggests their dancing abilities may have originated as courtship behavior that has been redirected towards their owners.

Study leader Natasha Lubke, of Charles Sturt University, said: “By analyzing dance behavior of cockatoos from 45 YouTube videos as well as cockatoos at Wagga Wagga Zoo and Aviary, I showed that dancing behavior is more common in cockatoos than previously thought and was seen in 10 of the 21 cockatoo species.

"My analysis also indicated that dancing is far more complex and varied than previously thought, recording 30 different movements seen in multiple birds and a further 17 movements that were seen in only one bird.”

She added: “As well as supporting the presence of positive emotions in birds and advancing dance behavior as an excellent model to study parrot emotions, the work suggests that playing music to parrots may provide a useful approach to enrich their lives in captivity, with positive effects on their welfare.”

The team said further research is needed to determine whether the birds enjoy dancing and whether encouraging the behavior could improve welfare for captive cockatoos.

Study senior author Professor Rafael Freire, also of Charles Sturt University, added: “The similarities with human dancing make it hard to argue against well-developed cognitive and emotional processes in parrots, and playing music to parrots may improve their welfare.

"Further research would be beneficial to determine if music can trigger dance in captive birds and serve as a form of environmental enrichment.”