Study suggests birds may genuinely enjoy flying
A study of Galahs found that the parrots almost always chose to fly when given the opportunity and showed signs of an improved emotional state after repeated free-flight sessions.
Birds may genuinely enjoy flying, according to a new study which found that Galahs became more optimistic after consecutive days of free flight and more pessimistic when the opportunity was repeatedly withheld.
Researchers from Utrecht University studied 17 captive Galahs taking part in voluntary free-flight demonstrations at Avifauna bird park in the Netherlands. The birds were never forced to leave their aviary and received food whether or not they chose to fly.
Across 68 days on which the aviary gates were opened, the Galahs chose to fly on virtually every occasion. Fifteen of the 17 birds flew every time, while the remaining two each stayed behind once.
To assess the birds’ emotional state, the researchers compared their behaviour, decision-making and levels of stress-related hormones on flight and non-flight days.
Eleven Galahs were trained to complete a cognitive bias test in which they chose between options associated with high- and lower-value food rewards. Their responses to ambiguous cues were used to judge whether they were behaving relatively optimistically or pessimistically.
A single flight did not produce an immediate change, but the birds became increasingly likely to make optimistic choices after several consecutive days of free flight. Conversely, they became more likely to make pessimistic choices as the number of consecutive days without flight increased.
The researchers said this suggested that flying may have a cumulative effect on the birds’ mood, rather than producing a strong emotional change after one session.
Behavioural observations also found that the Galahs spent more time foraging and showed increased crest-raising and scratching after flying. Crest-raising in cockatoos is linked to arousal and, because little conflict was observed, was considered likely to reflect excitement associated with flight.
No significant difference was found in faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, which were measured as an indicator of physiological stress. The physical exertion involved in flying may have obscured any hormonal effects linked to a positive emotional state.
The authors cautioned that the study involved a small group of captive Galahs and that other aspects of the demonstrations, including foraging and social interaction, could have contributed to the results.
However, the birds’ near-universal decision to fly suggested a strong motivation to perform the behaviour. The findings raise wider questions about whether sustained flight should be considered a fundamental behavioural need for captive birds rather than simply a form of enrichment.
July 2026
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