• Question: When parrots repeat words and phrases do they really just learn it parrot fashion or do they understand what they are saying?

    Asked by elladooly to Charlotte, Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 12 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by brookie19, kiwigummibear, snailslime, ciara2219, sarahfb.
    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 12 Jun 2012:

      There are many species of talking birds and their intelligence/cognition varies a fair bit.

      However parrot species are merely mimicking what they hear and don’t know what it is they’re saying. Why they do this is still slightly unknown – some scientists theorise that they do it to keep themselves amused! Parrots are notorious for becoming bored and restless – they usually pluck their feathers out aggressively if this happens.

      The best “talker” is the African Grey Parrot. The male African Grey can copy human speech perfectly.

      Check out Einstein the parrot on youtube – he’s a great example of how good they are at mimicking!

    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 12 Jun 2012:

      When you think about it we all have to learn language when we are babies we are talked at for hours to let the words sink in and for us to start talking and picking up phrases, so parrots pick up words but may not understand them in the same way we do. They are very intelligent birds though and not suitable as pets generally. I used to have a budgie that could mimic my dogs barking at the bottom of the garden!

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