Ask Lafeber

Do birds masturbate?

Do birds masturbate? I have a cockatiel that I believe is masturbating.

Hi Janet,

Yes, a lot of times they will bond with a toy or a perch and mate with it as if it is another bird. Some birds will do this on the owner’s hand. It’s best to replace the toy or perch with something else and try to distract him with a new toy. Mainly because it can start causing behavior issues if he gets obsessed with a toy.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda