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The Evolution of Masturbation in Birds
Chloe Heys1,2, Kevin Arbuckle3, Matilda Brindle4
1School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences University of Lancashire Preston UK.
Ecology and Evolution
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Masturbation is a widespread sexual behavior in birds, not just practice for mating. This study suggests it serves as an outlet for sexual arousal or enhances reproductive success.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Sexual behavior theories often focus on adaptive explanations.
- Masturbation presents a puzzle, appearing to waste resources like time, energy, and sperm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary and functional explanations for masturbation in birds.
- To test hypotheses regarding why masturbation occurs across avian species.
Main Methods:
- Utilized targeted surveys and published accounts to gather data.
- Examined the presence or absence of masturbation across a phylogenetically broad dataset of 120 bird species.
Main Results:
- Masturbation is widespread in birds and phylogenetically conserved within clades.
- More common in males, but female masturbation suggests multiple functions beyond sperm maintenance.
- Occurrence did not differ between juveniles and adults.
- Species with indiscriminate mating were more likely to masturbate than socially monogamous species.
- More prevalent in wild than captive birds, ruling out captivity as a cause.
Conclusions:
- Masturbation is an integral part of the avian sexual behavior repertoire.
- Potential functions include managing sexual arousal and enhancing reproductive success via postcopulatory selection.
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