Overview

• Researchers at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, Australia, cataloged 30 distinct dance movements, including 17 previously undocumented, by analyzing social media videos and zoo observations.
• Dancing behavior was recorded in at least 10 of the 21 known cockatoo species, with some individuals combining multiple moves to create unique choreographies.
• Cockatoos performed dance routines in response to music, podcasts or silence, demonstrating that rhythmic movement can occur without external musical cues.
• Many of the identified moves mirror courtship displays of wild parrots, suggesting the behavior may have evolved from redirected mating rituals.
• Authors recommend follow-up experiments to probe what drives cockatoo dancing and to assess the use of music in enrichment programs for captive cockatoos.