It Turns Out Birds Masturbate Too, And Evolution May Explain Why
ScienceAlert • • science
Key Points:
- New research reveals that masturbation is widespread among birds, with males engaging in the behavior more frequently than females, and wild birds masturbating even more than captive ones.
- The study analyzed 120 bird species and found that socially monogamous birds were less likely to masturbate compared to species with multiple mates, while age and social environment had no significant effect.
- Contrary to previous assumptions, masturbation in birds is a natural and healthy behavior rather than a sign of stress or poor health, suggesting pet owners need not discourage it but rather provide privacy.
- Evolutionary biologists propose that masturbation may serve functions like clearing out old sperm in males, facilitating quick sexual encounters in females, or simply acting as a sexual outlet in response to high sex drive.
- This behavior is not unique to birds but is widespread in the animal kingdom, observed in species such as monkeys, dolphins, elephants, and walruses, indicating an evolutionary basis for self-pleasure.