Cockatoos in Sydney show city survival through learned culture

Sulfur-crested cockatoos, already known for their intelligence, are putting that cleverness to work in Australian cities. In places like Brisbane and Sydney, the birds have learned to turn on drinking fountains by twisting the handle with their feet, giving them access to fresh water.

In Sydney specifically, cockatoos have also mastered a trickier urban challenge: lifting the lids of municipal garbage cans to get at the contents. The behavior is not just individual problem-solving but part of a broader pattern of animal culture, where skills spread and persist within groups.

That cultural dimension is what makes the cockatoos remarkable, according to the report. As cities expand, the ability to learn from others and pass on new techniques may be key to how wildlife adapts to human-altered environments. The findings add to a growing picture of animals not just tolerating city life but actively finding ways to thrive in it.