Parrot Homosexuality

[Alien J]

Very interesting article. I've read some about homosexuality in species other than human. It appears to exist in just about every species known to mankind, but only mankind has an issue with it. Odd, isn't it?

Is My Bird Gay? Information About Homosexual Birds And Parrots

We might think that homosexuality does not exist in birds or parrots. Since a major drive in the animal kingdom is to reproduce and homosexuality does not serve this function. However, we would be making an incorrect assumption. Many species of birds engage in homosexual behavior.

www.herebird.com

 

[Shezbug]

Very interesting article, thank you fir sharing it

 

[fashionfobie]

I think that the finch trios are really interesting. Two bonded males will stick together when one has chicks with a female. Both males will help raise the chicks, even if they aren't their own.


I also really love this research linked below. The relationship between bonded birds was more valuable than having offspring.

Study of finches shows they form homosexual alliances

 

[Ripshod]

I see it one way.
When two males bond it's not homosexual. Why can't a close relationship between two males still be heterosexual? I think it's the sexual act that makes it homosexual, and along with Europeans I say close friendship and the occasional peck on the cheek is totally fine.
Yet there's nothing wrong with being homosexual. Who am I to frown on it?

 

[Zara]

I think that the finch trios are really interesting. Two bonded males will stick together when one has chicks with a female. Both males will help raise the chicks, even if they aren't their own.

That reminds me of the eagle trio, remember that? A Rare Trio

 

[faislaq]

It made me think of Vasas, but then I remembered the males are not bonded to one another, I don't think.

 

[Alien J]

When two males bond it's not homosexual.

I totally agree that same sex friendships should be allowed to blossom and flourish and no one should ever be ashamed or afraid to show affection to one another regardless if it's a sexual relationship or friendship. I once met a young man from somewhere in Africa. I don't remember much about him as I was just a girl and he was visiting our church. The one thing that I never forgot was that he was shocked that in America people looked at you funny if you held hands with a friend. Of course, he meant a male friend. He said where he was raised it's perfectly acceptable for any friends to hold hands. I don't know why, but I never forgot that.

 

[Leih]

Love it! My two male linnies are a bonded pair but my female lovebird has a crush on one. I tell her all the time that he's not interested hahaha Some same sex pairs do mate, however mine don't. I have a lot of fun talking about my gay birds since I am too

 

[tka]

There's actually quite a lot of academic work on homosocial behaviours - intense same-gender friendships that can be very close and affectionate. It's definitely a normal part of human experience that is very important to us, and our mental health suffers when we don't have close, affectionate friendships. In the UK, US and Canada, a lot of mental health campaigns aimed at men focus on getting men to nurture these friendships and to open up to their friends.

Unfortunately we can't ask animals whether they feel intense affection, romantic love, sexual attraction... and, indeed, creating these distinctions between different kinds of love is a human thing. What we do know is that animals do court, mate and rear young with others of the same sex, and that this is widely documented across species. We also know that animals don't necessarily raise families within a monogamous pair-bond: we know that some species raise young communally in a creche, that some take many mates (female eclectus parrots for example), that some form stable triad relationships. We know that some species of fish even change gender as they mature or as the shoal dynamic shifts, like clownfish and parrotfish.

We've done animals a great disservice by projecting human values - themselves a product of a particular time and culture - onto them. It's stopped us recognising all sorts of interesting, important behaviours and from fully appreciating the great diversity found in nature.

 

[Alien J]

We've done animals a great disservice

In more ways than one. If you have the opportunity to peruse the recent special National Geographic publication entitled Secrets of Animal Communication, it's well worth it. I read it cover to cover twice already and know that I will probably do so several times more. Fascinating...but I'm not surprised!