A new study in Ecology & Evolution (Heys et al., 2026) looked at 120 bird species across 22 groups and found that masturbation is widespread, natural, and evolutionarily ancient. It occurs in both sexes and all ages. And it's actually more common in wild birds than in captive ones - so it's not a response to stress or boredom.
Some of the most beautiful birds in the world are among them. The Scarlet Macaw with its red, yellow and blue plumage. The Mandarin Duck - one of the most visually stunning waterfowl. The Indian Peacock, whose iridescent train has been a symbol of beauty across cultures for millennia.
If self-pleasure is a natural instinct written into the biology of hundreds of bird species across millions of years of evolution - if even the peacock, often called God's most beautiful creation, does it - then calling it "unnatural" or "sinful" doesn't hold up. God made birds with sinful nature as well? Do they go to hell? Is church wrong about masturbation? Or is god wrong about it?
