Bonding with your 'keet
.webp)
Instead of approaching
immediately, they move in gradually, becoming comfortable over time before
engaging in interactions that carry a higher risk of conflict or injury.
The work was published in the journal Biology
Letters.
Why Parrots Value Close Social Bonds
“There can be a lot of benefits to being social, but these
friendships have to start somewhere,“ said Claire O’Connell, the study’s lead
author and a doctoral student in UC’s College of Arts and Sciences.
O’Connell conducted the study with UC Associate Professor
Elizabeth Hobson, former UC postdoctoral researcher Annemarie van der Marel,
and Princeton University Associate Professor Gerald Carter. She
explained that many parrot species develop deep connections with one
or two trusted partners. These pairs may spend long periods together, groom
each other, or form reproductive partnerships. According to O’Connell,
maintaining strong bonds such as these is often associated with reduced stress
and higher reproductive success.
The Risks of First Contact
Even with the advantages of close companionship, the
earliest stages of a new interaction can be risky. O’Connell noted that some
birds respond aggressively if they do not want attention from a newcomer, which
can lead to injuries.
To explore how new ties develop, the researchers placed
groups of wild-caught monk parakeets in a roomy flight pen. Some of the birds
had no prior relationship. The team observed how close individuals allowed each
other to get and recorded which pairs began grooming or participating in other
friendly behaviors as time passed.
Researchers say monk parakeets test the waters of new
relationships by gradually increasing solicitous behaviors to make friends with
other birds. Credit: Michael Miller
Tracking How Relationships Form
The researchers analyzed more than 179 relationships using
computational techniques and statistical models. Their goal was to determine
whether the pattern of forming new bonds aligned with earlier studies on the
idea of testing the waters.
“Capturing the first moments between strangers can be
challenging, so we were really excited that our experiments gave us the chance
to observe that process up close,” O’Connell said.
Their findings showed that unfamiliar birds behaved far more
cautiously than birds that already knew one another. Strangers slowly learned
to share space, eventually sitting side by side, touching beaks or preening
each other. In some cases, the relationship deepened further, progressing to
shared food or mating.
A Pattern Seen in Other Species
The results were similar to those from a 2020 study of
vampire bats, which reported that newcomers also test the waters by moving from
simple grooming to cooperative food sharing as trust grows.
“What’s really fascinating about testing the waters is how
intuitive it feels,” O’Connell said.
“I can definitely relate! I started observing the parakeets
shortly before I moved to Cincinnati to start graduate school,” she said. “I
was excited but also a little nervous about making new friends. At the same
time, I was literally watching the parakeets make new friends themselves,
although some did better than others. I started realizing there may be
something I could learn from the parakeets.”
Reference: “Monk parakeets ‘test the waters’ when forming
new relationships” by Claire L. O’Connell, Gerald G. Carter, Annemarie van der
Marel and Elizabeth A. Hobson, 12 November 2025, Biology Letters.
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2025.0399
