US EditionThese Australian Cockatoos Learned to Operate Drinking Fountains With Their Feet to Quench Their Thirst
- Researchers led by Barbara Klump observed sulfur-crested cockatoos in Western Sydney operating public drinking fountains in a study published in Biology Letters in 2025.
- The behavior, studied over 44 days with 525 recorded attempts, emerged from the birds' adaptation to urban environments and required coordinated actions to activate the fountains.
- The cockatoos used their beaks and feet to twist handles, waiting in lines and taking turns, demonstrating varying skill levels and social coordination at the fountain.
- The birds were successful in activating the fountain in 41% to 46% of attempts, with co-author Lucy Aplin noting that the task involves a highly intricate sequence of precise motor skills rather than sheer strength.
- This behavior suggests urban-adapted local tradition among cockatoos and raises considerations for species habitat needs and urban biodiversity as these birds prefer cleaner fountain water over natural sources.
13 Articles
13 Articles
These Cockatoos Learned to Operate Drinking Fountains with Their Feet to Quench Their Thirst –
When scientist Barbara Klump saw some cockatoos operate a water fountain in Australia, a million questions flashed through her mind. That’s understandable. How did they learn; why did they learn? Can all cockatoos do that and can they teach it? Why not just drink from the stream? When it comes to displays of animal intelligence, […] The post These Cockatoos Learned to Operate Drinking Fountains with Their Feet to Quench Their Thirst – appeared f…
Ecologists at the Australian National University report in the June 4 issue of the journal Biology Letters that smart city-dwelling parrots have figured out how to turn off the water fountain to drink. Ecologist Lucy Aplin and her colleagues studied yellow-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) and their relationship to urban environments.
In Sydney, wild cockatoos have developed an unusual technique: they use their feet at public drinking fountains.
Wild cockatoos figure out how to operate water fountains
Thirsty cockatoos in western Sydney have mastered the art of operating public drinking fountains, displaying problem-solving skills previously unseen in wild birds. Watch the video. The parrots figured out how to twist and hold fountain handles with their feet while drinking from the spout, according to research published in Biology Letters. — Read the rest The post Watch: Wild cockatoos figure out how to operate water fountains appeared first o…
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