Scientists discover parrots may actually use names
Key takeaways
- Parrots are famous for their ability to imitate human speech, but could they also be using names the way people do?
- Instead of traveling to tropical habitats to record wild parrots, as researchers have done in previous studies, Lauryn Benedict, a biology professor at the University of Northern Colorado, took a different approach.
- Working with longtime collaborator Christine Dahlin of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and researchers from Austria, Benedict examined vocal recordings from more than 880 captive parrots.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
Parrots are famous for their ability to imitate human speech, but could they also be using names the way people do? A new study suggests the answer may be yes.
Instead of traveling to tropical habitats to record wild parrots, as researchers have done in previous studies, Lauryn Benedict, a biology professor at the University of Northern Colorado, took a different approach. She focused on parrots living alongside humans, birds that regularly hear and repeat words, including people's names.
Working with longtime collaborator Christine Dahlin of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and researchers from Austria, Benedict examined vocal recordings from more than 880 captive parrots. The team found many examples of birds using names in ways that appeared similar to how humans identify specific individuals. They also uncovered some surprising patterns in how parrots used those names.