Careful parakeet friendships
New research shows that monk parakeets do not jump into new relationships but instead build trust with unfamiliar birds step by step. These birds weigh the risks of new social bonds and invest in them only after careful testing of a potential partner’s behavior.
Gradual trust building
When parakeets encounter strangers, they first keep some distance and simply share nearby space before attempting any closer contact. Only after spending time side by side do they move toward more intimate, higher‑risk behaviors such as beak touching, preening, sharing food, or mating.
Managing social risks
By approaching slowly, parakeets can evaluate whether a newcomer is tolerant or aggressive, which helps them avoid injury and wasted effort. This “cautious first, closer later” strategy allows them to secure the benefits of social life while keeping potential costs under control.
Similarities to human behavior
The pattern of “testing the waters” in parakeets resembles how people often behave in unfamiliar groups, first observing and then joining in gradually. The study suggests that, in complex social species, friendships often begin with small, low‑risk interactions that lay the groundwork for deeper bonds.
Author’s summary
Cautious and stepwise, monk parakeets grow new relationships through many small, low‑risk interactions, showing that even bird friendships are deliberate, gradual, and strategically careful.
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