A New Zealand parrot that's missing the entire top half of its beak has developed a unique jousting technique to attain top social status, researchers report in a new study.
The parrot, named Bruce, thrusts with his exposed lower beak during jousts, targeting the head, wings, beak and legs of his opponent, although he usually doesn't make contact, Alex Grabham, a biologist at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury in New Zealand and first author of the study, told Live Science. Instead, the moves are competitive posturing meant to spook the opponent. Bruce extends his neck to use more force at close range, or runs and jumps from farther away to drive his beak at other males.
