In Kenya, a long-term study has revealed that superb starlings form strong social bonds by helping each other raise chicks. The birds support not only their relatives but also unrelated members of their group, suggesting a type of bird “friendship.” The study, which tracked 410 nests and 1,175 birds over 20 years, shows that starlings return favors in later breeding seasons. Researchers say this mutual support system may help the birds survive in harsh environments where teamwork is essential. The findings give new insight into animal cooperation and how it extends beyond just helping family.

Birds That Give Back: Starlings Help Those Who Help Them

New research shows that superb starlings don’t just help randomly. They are more likely to help birds that have helped them before. In other words, they repay kindness with kindness. This kind of behavior is called “reciprocal cooperation.”

The study was led by researchers observing starlings in Kenya’s dry savannas. Over two decades, they watched how these birds worked together during breeding seasons. The research was recently published in the journal Nature.

“We often think only humans or primates do this,” said Professor Dustin Rubenstein of Columbia University. “But these birds remember who helped them. It’s like a friendship: I help you this year, you help me next year.”

Not Just About Family: Cooperation Goes Beyond Kin

It’s common for animals to help family members, but this study shows starlings go further. Helpers often supported unrelated birds, even when close relatives were available.

That means their help isn’t just about sharing genes. It’s also about keeping social ties strong.

This suggests that starlings value long-term bonds. These bonds help keep their groups stable, especially when resources like food and water are hard to find.

Why the Environment Matters

Superb starlings live in tough conditions. In dry areas, it’s hard for one pair to raise chicks alone. Extra help makes a big difference.

These birds form groups where members take turns helping each other. One year, a bird may act as a helper. The next year, the same bird might be the one raising chicks and receiving help.

“This give-and-take helps the group survive,” explained Dr Julia Schroeder, a behavioral ecologist at Imperial College London. “It proves that social support isn’t only about family. It’s also about strategy.”

Long-Term Memory and Social Intelligence

Another key takeaway from the study is that these birds can recognize other individuals. They also remember past interactions. This is strong evidence that starlings have a type of social intelligence.

Such memory skills are rare in birds. Yet, in superb starlings, it seems to play a major role in how they live and cooperate.

The researchers believe this adds a new layer to our understanding of animal behavior. It shows that even in the bird world, friendships can form through trust and shared effort.

What This Means for Science

This research supports the idea that animals can show altruism even outside their own family. It also helps scientists better understand how cooperation might have evolved in different species.

The study is part of a growing body of work showing that animals are more socially complex than once believed. Reciprocal help has now been seen in primates, dolphins, and birds like starlings.

As the climate changes and environments become more extreme, understanding these social strategies could help conservation efforts too.

The discovery that superb starlings build lasting bonds through mutual help sheds new light on how cooperation works in nature. It shows that animals can form friendships based on shared effort, not just family ties. As we learn more about these birds, we also learn more about ourselves—and how the roots of kindness may run deeper in the animal kingdom than we thought.