From head bangs to ‘fluff’: Cockatoo parrots in Australia perform 30 dance moves, including 17 never seen before

Cockatoos Show Off 30 Dance Moves, Study Finds (Image: Canva)

Some dance floors are feathered rather than crowded with people. In Australia, a group of cockatoos has been caught grooving to music with surprising style.

Study Observes Captive Cockatoos Dancing to Music
Researchers from Charles Sturt University studied 45 social media videos and observed six cockatoos at Wagga Wagga Zoo. The birds, from three species, were played music, a podcast, and silence. Yet they still performed an array of moves, from headbanging to sidestepping. One unique bird displayed 17 moves not seen in others.

Thirty Distinct Movements Found in Captive Birds
Researchers identified 30 different movements, such as joint rolls, half-turns and a characteristic 'fluff' movement. Each bird used the moves differently, exhibiting individual styles. The researchers suggest these abilities may come from courtship rituals adapted for entertainment.

Depiction of the 10 most frequently observed dance moves. (Image: Zenna Lugosi/Lubke et al., PLOS One, 2025, CC-BY 4.0)

Music May Improve Parrot Welfare, Experts Say
Ethologist Rafael Freire said the similarities to human dancing hint at advanced cognitive and emotional skills in parrots. Playing music might also improve their welfare. The team believes further studies could reveal if music triggers dancing and serves as enrichment for captive birds.