Not Just Instinct: Wild Birds Show Signs of True Friendship

Scientists Discover Wild Birds Behaving Suspiciously Like Friends

For years, the idea of “friendship” was considered a uniquely human trait—something built on complex emotions, shared experiences, and mutual understanding. In some cases, scientists extended this idea to highly social mammals like dolphins, elephants, and primates. But birds? Most people think of them as either solitary or following instinct-driven flocks. However, recent scientific discoveries are beginning to change that view dramatically. New research shows that many species of wild birds may, in fact, behave in ways that strongly resemble human-like friendships—complete with trust, memory, cooperation, and emotional bonds.

The most surprising part? These behaviors are not only being seen in domesticated or captive birds, but also among wild species in their natural habitats. From ravens that form alliances, to parrots that console each other after conflict, scientists are now paying closer attention to the social lives of birds—and what they’re finding is reshaping how we think about animal intelligence and emotion.

Social Bonds in the Sky

In a landmark study published in recent years, researchers observed wild ravens forming strong, stable relationships over long periods of time. These birds were seen engaging in mutual grooming, sharing food, and defending one another during conflicts with outsiders. Some of these partnerships lasted for years and were not solely linked to mating or family ties.

Similarly, parrots have been shown to remember individual companions and seek them out, even after long separations. In some cases, when one bird was distressed, its companion would approach to comfort it—a behavior that many scientists interpret as a sign of emotional empathy.

Magpies, jays, and cockatoos are also showing up in these studies, with behaviors suggesting not just temporary alliances, but real, enduring social relationships. Researchers are cautious about using the word “friendship,” since it has human connotations, but the parallels are hard to ignore.

Intelligence and Emotion

Birds have long been underestimated when it comes to intelligence. For much of scientific history, their brains were thought to be too small and primitive to support complex thinking. But that myth has been steadily debunked. We now know that the avian brain is structured differently but is highly efficient—especially in corvids (crows, ravens, magpies) and parrots.

These birds have demonstrated abilities like problem-solving, planning for the future, using tools, and even understanding cause and effect. Now, with social behavior added to the list, scientists are beginning to accept that birds may have emotional lives that are much richer than previously imagined.

In one experiment, African grey parrots were given a choice: take a treat for themselves or share it with a friend. Many chose to share. Not only does this suggest empathy, but it also shows a sense of fairness—a trait once thought to be purely human.

Why Friendship in Birds Matters

This discovery is more than a quirky observation. It has serious implications for our understanding of the evolution of social behavior. If birds, who last shared a common ancestor with humans over 300 million years ago, can form friendships, then such behaviors may have evolved multiple times independently across different species. That suggests that social bonding offers significant evolutionary advantages.

Friendship-like bonds can help animals survive by providing support in conflicts, improving cooperation in raising young, and strengthening group stability. For birds, especially those living in complex environments or large social groups, these relationships may be key to navigating their world.

Rethinking Our Relationship with Nature

The idea that birds can form friendships challenges many of the assumptions humans have long made about our place in the natural world. It reminds us that intelligence and emotional complexity are not the exclusive domain of humans or mammals. Instead, they may be part of a broader, more interconnected picture of life on Earth—one where many species are capable of forming bonds, feeling emotions, and supporting one another.

As scientists continue to explore the social lives of animals, birds are becoming an exciting frontier. Each new discovery not only changes how we view them, but also how we think about friendship itself.

Are we really so different from the birds above us? Or have we simply not been paying close enough attention?