Parrots' Food-dunking Habit Sheds Light on Human Snack Preferences

Goffin's cockatoos, known for their problem-solving skills, have been observed dunking their food, specifically dry toast, into water before eating it. This behavior, documented for the first time in parrots, is seen as an innovation in food preparation. The birds sometimes wait for the toast to soften, displaying impulse control. While the behavior has not been observed in wild cockatoos, researchers are interested in studying whether they would exhibit the same behavior if given the opportunity.