Birds are highly intelligent creatures that exhibit complex behavior and cognition. There has been growing interest around the topic of bird intelligence and whether birds have the capacity to play. Play behavior is thought to be an indication of intelligence and creativity. Researchers have investigated if pet birds engage in play with objects in their environment, especially toys provided by owners.
What is play behavior?
Play is considered voluntary behavior that is pleasurable, repetitive, and appears to have no obvious immediate benefit or purpose. Play provides enjoyment, allows animals to practice skills, and facilitates social bonding. Scientists categorize play into several types:
- Locomotor play: activities like flying, jumping, and acrobatics
- Object play: manipulating or carrying objects
- Social play: play fighting or chasing each other
In birds, common play behaviors include acrobatic flying displays, tossing around small objects, chewing on and carrying foot toys, and gentle wrestling with other birds. Play provides mental enrichment and allows birds to use intelligence in creative ways.
Evidence that birds play
Play was once thought to be unique to mammals, but research over the past few decades provides convincing evidence that birds engage in play too. Some key pieces of evidence:
- Parrots and corvids playfully manipulate objects, carry toys around, and even make their own toys.
- Songbirds and parrots playfully wrestle with each other and perform acrobatic flying displays.
- Young ravens engage in sophisticated social games like hide-and-seek.
- Captive birds voluntarily spend time playing with toys, even when other important needs are met.
Many ornithologists now accept that playfulness is likely widespread in birds, especially highly intelligent species. The presence of avian play demonstrates cognition that allows intentional, creative behaviors beyond basic instinct.
Do pet birds play with toys?
Owners of pet parrots and other birds frequently report their birds playing with toys. Parrots are particularly known for their playful behavior. Types of toy play seen in pet birds include:
- Tearing apart paper, cardboard, and wood toys into shreds
- Rolling balls and other objects around their enclosure
- Swinging on ropes, ladders, and rings
- Tossing lightweight toys in the air
- Making noise with bells, shakers, and other sound toys
- Looking at their reflection and beak wiping on mirrors
- Shredding straws and other foot toys
Owners will often provide foot toys, like bells and wood blocks for chewing and grasping, and incorporate play gyms and swings into cages to stimulate activity. Providing toys allows captive birds mental enrichment and gives them an outlet for their intelligence and curiosity.
Types of bird toys
Good bird toys have qualities that make them enriching play objects for avian pets. Characteristics of popular bird toy types include:
| Toy | Qualities |
|---|---|
| Shredding toys | Paper, cardboard, wood strips for tearing apart |
| Noisemakers | Bells, mirrors, crinkle paper that create engaging sounds |
| Foraging toys | Puzzles, boxes, eggs filled with treats to extract |
| Exercise toys | Ladders, ropes, swings that allow climbing and swinging |
Owners should select toys that are safe and stimulate natural behaviors like exploration, foraging, foot play, and shredding. Toys should be sturdy enough to withstand chewing, or birds may ingest dangerous pieces.
Benefits of bird toy play
Providing appropriate play objects offers many benefits for a bird’s mental and physical health. Positive effects of bird toy play include:
- Prevents boredom and reduces stress
- Satisfies natural curiosity and foraging instincts
- Keeps their mind active and delays cognitive decline
- Provides mental enrichment and sensory stimulation
- Channels destructive chewing instincts onto appropriate objects
- Gives physical exercise when playing on swings or climbing ladders
- Allows positive display and mastery of skills
Owners should rotate new toys regularly to create novelty and continually stimulate play drive in their pet birds. Interacting with toys is an important component of creating a mentally engaging environment for birds kept in captivity.
Why do birds play?
Bird play gives insight into their intelligence and psychology. But why has play behavior evolved in many bird species? Some explanations for why birds play include:
- Practice skills – Play helps develop physical skills and coordination
- Social bonding – Social play like wrestling strengthens relationships
- Cognitive development – Manipulating toys exercises mental abilities
- Mastery – Play allows animals to refine abilities and gain competence
- Curiosity – Play satisfies natural curiosity about their environment
Play makes use of birds’ flexible intelligence in creative, non-instinctive ways. It also gives birds agency over their environment and activities within it. The presence of avian play demonstrates complex cognition and intelligence.
Bird species that play
All bird species engage in some forms of play, but intelligent species with complex social behavior play the most. Common types of play have been observed in:
- Parrots – wrestle, play with toys
- Corvids – ravens, crows, jays play sophisticated games
- Australian magpies – make toys out of shedded bark and flowers
- Songbirds – finches, sparrows play with toys and make noise
- Birds of prey – eagles and hawks playfully soar and dive
- Seabirds – albatrosses perform elaborate courtship dances
As we further study the cognition of birds, we continue to find more evidence that playfulness crosses a wide range of avian species. The presence of play reveals that an animal has cognitive abilities like imagination, creativity, and flexibility.
Conclusion
Research has clearly shown that many bird species demonstrate types of play behavior. Birds playfully manipulate objects in their environment, perform daring aerial acrobatics, and wrestle with flockmates. Providing toys can stimulate important play activity in captive pet birds, giving them an outlet for intelligence and natural behaviors.
Avian play indicates sophisticated cognitive abilities like foresight, creativity, and imagination. Observing bird play continues to provide insight into the psychology and evolution of bird intelligence. As science progresses, we find more and more evidence that birds have remarkably complex inner lives.
