Birds Can be Bullies Too

Just like humans, birds that are abused when they’re young are more likely to become abusers themselves later on.

Adult Nazca boobies, seabirds that live on the Galapagos Islands, often attack their neighbors’ young. These bullied nestlings then turn into bullies themselves when they become adults, meaning the cycle continues. Researchers even believe that this cycle may have the same cause in both birds and humans, since stress hormones surge after bird abuse.

In LiveScience.com, Stephanie Pappas quotes biologist Dave Anderson as saying, "We were surprised by the intense interest that many adults show in unrelated young, involving really rough treatment. A bird’s history as a target of abuse proved to be a strong predictor of its adult behavior."

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