Rabbit reproduction AI - Purpose or mistake?

As it is with cows, sheep and chickens etc, feeding them the food required for reproduction, results in the mob disregarding further food from the player and reproducing. Rabbits however, when fed, keep tracked on carrots, if the player is holding them out. They breed once the player removes the item from their hotbar selection, as seen in the screenshot, where as other mobs couldn't care less.

I can not be sure if this is a bug, but it is however unconventional AI, and perhaps may be a mistake/bug.