This Australian bird not only plays drums, but also makes its own drumsticks

Australian palm parrots are known for their unique love of drumming. But not only do they have a great beat, they also turn out to be surprisingly creative.

Male palm cockatoos are the animal kingdom’s equivalent of Ringo Starr or Phil Collins. To mark their territory or attract females, this Australian bird happily beats drums. But now it seems that in addition to music, the palm parrot has another talent. Which is very innovative: each bird has its own taste when it comes to making the necessary drumsticks.

More about palm cockatoos
The palm parakeet is an iconic bird native to Australia. They are found in the northern regions of the country, especially in forested areas. They can often be found in dense forests and near palm trees, where they make nest cavities and find food. The palm parakeet is known for its striking appearance and loud call. They have mostly dark gray plumage, with bright red spots on the cheeks and a distinctive crest on their heads. But what really sets the palm parakeet apart is its huge beak. The bill is large, curved, and strong, allowing the bird to crack seeds and nuts, as well as break up fruit and other food sources.

It has been known for some time that palm cockatoos are surprisingly musical. As mentioned, they are avid drummers. This amazing drumming behavior plays a social and functional role.

unique
By playing complex rhythms and patterns, they impress females and try to arouse their interest. At the same time, strong sounds can serve as a warning signal for competitors to stay away. Each male has his own unique drum rhythm, which allows other birds, including potential mates, to recognize him. This helps prevent confusion between specific characteristics within a community.

tools
In short, says researcher Rob Hinson: “We already knew that palm parrots have very personal drumming, allowing other birds to hear who is drumming from afar.” But now he and his colleagues have revealed another interesting characteristic of this Australian bird. “We have now also discovered that each palm parrot has its own unique way of making the necessary drumsticks,” Henson continues. “It’s like watching skilled woodworkers adjust their instruments until the drumsticks are the right shape.”

Personalized drum sticks
This means that each palm parakeet makes its own drumsticks. Each bird has its own preference for the final appearance. For example, some choose long, thin drumsticks, while others make short, thick ones. The materials they use to make drum sticks also vary. For example, some palm parrots prefer twigs or twigs from trees, while certain species prefer seed pods (fruits of trees or plants).

Unique preference
“We were surprised by the unique preferences of each of them,” says Hynson. “It’s as if they all have their own personal vision of what makes a perfect drum. This discovery seems like the icing on the cake: it shows that each male shapes his instruments differently. Furthermore, the researchers discovered that neighboring palm parrots did not copy each other’s designs Instead, male birds appear to teach this craft to their offspring.

Video camera
However, it was not easy to reveal this special talent of the palm parrot. They are very timid and timid birds and are known for their cautious nature. They usually avoid direct contact with people, and are often found in remote, inaccessible areas, such as rainforests. This makes them difficult to observe in the wild and a challenge for researchers who want to study their behavior. That’s why the scientists in the new study chose to “patiently chase the palm parrot” using a video camera. They also collected tools left by males after their use had ended. The researchers were eventually able to reveal the special behavior of thirteen different species of palm parrots.

Overall, the researchers showed how resourceful palm parrots are. However, tool use among animals is actually relatively rare. Although it is clearly present in some species (such as animals with higher cognitive abilities such as primates and some birds and dolphins), it is not widespread in the animal kingdom. But according to Henson, the use of instruments in musical performance is “completely unheard of.” The fact that the palm parrot makes its own drumsticks and then uses them to play the drums is very unique. It therefore illustrates the remarkably intelligent and complex behavior of this distinctive Australian bird.