Evidence that yawning is contagious in birds too

“Budgies” also find yawns contagious

Yawning is contagious in humans and some non-human primates. A recent study investigated the possibility that yawning and stretching was also contagious in birds. The social, flock-living birds Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), were videotaped and the times of all yawns and stretches for each bird were recorded.

Analyses suggest that the clustering of these behaviors is due to social influence. If the birds saw their neighbor stretching and yawning, it cued them to do the same. This study provides the first detailed description of temporal patterns of yawning under social conditions as well as the first support for contagious yawning and stretching in a non-primate species in a natural context.

Source: (Behavioural Processes, DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2011.12.012).

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