Why do birds do same things at the same time?

Hey guys,

I have a behavioral question, just for information

My two lovebirds do same things at the same time! They are in the same cage but with a divider in the middle, and they go eat at the same time (each on its own side), usually drink at the same time, bite on the cuttlefish bone at the same time... how so?

Thanks!

To some degree it is because they are flock creatures. Monkey see, monkey do. I've observed this with so many of my birds! When one eats, the others often join. Same with grooming and occasionally playing with toys.

Many birds also have behaviors similar to human OCD. One of my Goffins often "braces" his chop in the claws with a larger piece such as an edamame pod. He'll take one bite of food, start eating, and tap his beak to the pod. Over and over. Another will take a drink of water, swallow, tap the side of the dish with beak, and return to drink. She isn't wiping it, just a peck with the tip of her beak.

Flock instincts. A bird alone generally will not eat as much as a bird with a cage mate or in a larger flock.

I can't say why it is true but it IS true.
When one cockatiel stretches it's wings the others have to do it to.
This is why I have 1 food dish per bird in a cage. 1 water dish for every 2 birds.
texsize

Routine is GOLDEN to parrots. Flock action, PLATINUM.

I see Interesting! I cannot wait until Pika's underwing heals and they can be rejoined back and do things together again!

It is a behavior of a flock, herd, or swarm that nature has hardwired into an animal that the "whole is better than the individual". It is to insure that the majority in any one group will survive and be able to breed, thus continuing the species. It isn't something that each animal actually thinks about or comprehends. This behavior is thought to be perhaps an electromagnetic wave or a chemical pheromone that each individual animal gives off and in turn picks up, but is almost instantaneous. This is why you see large amounts of animals move as a whole almost on a dime as if they were one animal. There is really no lead animal to make the initial decision. It is a collective decision made on thousands of years of instinct instead of thought. On the other hand animals that live in family groups will have a leader, and although decisions are made by the lead animal (such as a matriarchal elephant), it is still based on thousands of years of instinct but not only just instinct, a family group has the added benefit of the experience of the leader of the group. Family group animals will move together and act together but do have a leader and do not have the same pheromones or electromagnetic abilities like large groups of animals do. There are pros and cons to each group though which I will not get into here. Hope that answers your question. Prob more than you ever wanted to know ! :45: