Social Behavior of Psittacine Birds

Seibert, Lynne M.

doi:10.1002/9780470344651.ch5

Cited by 35 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In keas ( Nestor notabilis ), when tested in a loose‐string paradigm where birds had to cooperate to obtain a reward, birds cooperated more with affiliates and were also more successful when tested with affiliates than with non‐affiliates (Schwing, Jocteur, Wein, Noë, & Massen, ). In birds, affiliative interactions can be easily measured by recording allopreening and maintenance of close proximity (Seibert, ), as observed in captive groups of spectacled parrotlets ( Forpus conspicillatus ; Garnetzke‐Stollmann & Franck, ). Allopreening is defined when a bird uses its beak to groom another bird, usually on the head or neck (Seibert, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food sharing and affiliation: An experimental and longitudinal study in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

et al. 2019

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Food sharing has attracted much attention because of its apparently altruistic nature and its link to prosociality. However, food sharing has been mostly studied in a reproductive context, during courtship and parental care, where the fitness benefits are obvious. We still lack a clear understanding of the functions of food sharing outside any reproductive context and within social groups of same‐aged peers. Previous studies suggest that cofeeding, the action to let another animal feed from the same monopolizable food source, may be used to build and strengthen bonds between individuals. This may be particularly crucial in social birds forming long‐term associations between mates or siblings such as psittacids and corvids. Here, we investigated food sharing and affiliative behaviors such as allopreening in a psittacine species, namely in a group of captive juvenile cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) consisting of five siblings and five unrelated birds. Our main objective was to study the developmental pattern of food sharing over time and its implication in social bonding depending on kinship, affiliation, and sex. Studying cockatiels in this context is providing many new information since most of the studies on food sharing in birds focused on corvids. We found that, contrary to jackdaws, cockatiels continued to share food with multiple individuals, although the frequency of cofeeding as well as the number of cofeeding partners decreased over time. Cockatiels shared more food with their siblings than with other conspecifics but they were not more likely to do cofeeding with birds of the opposite sex. We also found evidence that young cockatiels exchanged more food with those from whom they received food (reciprocity) and, to a lesser extent, allopreening (interchange), than from other cockatiels. Our findings suggest that in cockatiels, food sharing within social groups serves the formation (and maintenance) of affiliative bonds, especially between siblings, rather than pair bonds, but might additionally be explained by reciprocity, interchange, and harassment avoidance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food sharing and affiliation: An experimental and longitudinal study in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

et al. 2019

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“…Touch is an important part of conspecific avian social relationships, particularly in pair bonding (Seibert 2006). Habituation to touch is an important component of socializing young captive-reared parrots for life as companion animals and for making less traumatic routine husbandry and veterinary procedures (Linden and Luescher 2006, p. 107).…”

Section: The Human-avian Bond: Affection and Physical Contactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Dimensions of the Human–Avian Bond: Parrots and Their Persons

Anderson

2014

Anthrozoös

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Though birds are among the most popular companion animals in the United States, little scholarly research has focused on the humancompanion parrot relationship. This study uses an ethnographic approach and qualitative analysis to examine the parrot-pet owner relationship. Two and onehalf weeks of ethnographic fieldwork were carried out in a veterinary clinic specializing in avian and exotic medicine. These observations complement the results of quantitative data and qualitative analysis of texts from questionnaires completed by 100 parrot owners outside the clinic. Both textual analysis and observations in the veterinary clinic revealed some interesting insights into the social dimensions of the human-companion parrot relationship, which was rated superior to that of cats and dogs by some bird owners. Various patterns of human-avian interactions emerged from the data, including childhood experience with birds, affection and physical contact with birds, birds as family members and the nature of the human-parrot bond, infantilization (delayed weaning and parrot as child surrogate), anthropomorphism (celebration of holidays, diet, death and spirituality, and misinterpretation of bird behavior), intersubjectivity and cognition, and anthropocentrism (bird as object). Misinterpretation of bird behavior and failure to recognize the unique physiological and social needs of their species may lead to impaired welfare. On the other hand, according the bird a social status as cherished family member, may enhance their welfare. In addition, other factors are considered that may enhance or detract from the welfare of companion parrots. In a discussion of hypotheses regarding the human-pet bond, it is concluded that the data presented by this study best support the social support hypothesis.

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“…Parrots are generally diurnal prey animals and, with few exceptions, highly social birds that establish strong, monogamous pair bonds and often form gregarious fl ocks (Evans 2001;Seibert 2006). Inconsistent with environmental enrichment recommendations (discussed below; also see Bateson andFeenders 2010 andSchmidt 2010, both in this issue), laboratory confi nement during research trials often requires solitary housing.…”

Section: Housingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Housing and Management of Psittacine Birds Used in Research

Kalmar

Janssens²,

Moons³

2010

ILAR Journal

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The Psittaciformes are a large order of landbirds comprising over 350 species in about 83 genera. In 2009, 141 published studies implicated parrots as research subjects; in 31 of these studies, 483 individuals from 45 different species could be considered laboratory animals. Amazons and budgerigars were by far the most represented psittacine species. The laboratory research topics were categorized as either veterinary medicine and diagnostics (bacteriology, hematology, morphology, and reproduction; 45%) or behavioral and sensory studies (behavior, acoustics, and vision; 17%). Confinement of psittacine species for research purposes is a matter of concern as scientifically based species-specific housing guidelines are scarce. The aim of this article is to provide scientific information relevant to the laboratory confinement of Psittaciformes to promote the refinement of acquisition, housing, and maintenance practices of these birds as laboratory animals. We briefly discuss systematics, geographical distribution, legislation, and conservation status as background information on laboratory parrot confinement. The following section presents welfare concerns related to captive containment (including domestication status) and psittacine cognition. We then discuss considerations in the acquisition of laboratory parrots and review important management issues such as nutrition, zoonoses, housing, and environmental enrichment. The final section reviews indications of distress and compromised welfare.

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Social Behavior of Psittacine Birds

Cited by 35 publications

References 26 publications

Food sharing and affiliation: An experimental and longitudinal study in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

Food sharing and affiliation: An experimental and longitudinal study in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

Social Dimensions of the Human–Avian Bond: Parrots and Their Persons

Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Housing and Management of Psittacine Birds Used in Research

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