Spontaneous drumming behaviour in a Galah

Abstract Drumming—rhythmic, percussive sound production using body parts or external objects—is rare among non-human animals, with confirmed tool-assisted cases previously limited to primates and Palm Cockatoos. Here, we report the first documented instance of spontaneous, tool-assisted drumming in a Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla). A captive, male Galah produced rhythmic tapping by striking a coconut shell against a metal bowl. Across 14 recorded sessions, the bird displayed consistent temporal structure characterised by two stable tapping rates (approximately 0.8 s and 0.2 s inter-onset intervals) arranged into recurring phrases. This pattern indicates a simple hierarchical rhythmic organisation with a 4:1 ratio between metrical levels. The bird’s behaviour emerged without training, apparent reinforcement, or known exposure to conspecific or human drumming models, suggesting an intrinsic capacity for rhythmic tool use. Although the function of the behaviour remains unclear—play, nutrient extraction, or communicative signalling—these observations extend known rhythmic and tool-using abilities within cockatoos and raise new evolutionary questions. Our findings highlight the potential for rhythmically structured, instrumental behaviour to arise in a broader range of avian taxa than previously recognised, motivating further comparative and experimental work on the cognitive and biomechanical foundations of drumming in parrots. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.