By Sarah Ives
National Geographic Kids News
March 19, 2004
Can a bird have a sense of humor?
Some people think that N'Kisi, a pet African gray parrot, does. People also say they have done tests that show the parrot has a vocabulary of 950 words and the ability read people's minds!
Scientists aren't convinced, but they do agree that, given proper attention, parrots can learn to speak.
"A bird in someone's house that gets plenty of attention can learn a lot," Irene M. Pepperberg, a university professor and parrot expert, said.
Allison Hales of the World Parrot Trust agreed. "Parrots are sociable birds [but] teaching a young parrot to talk well means spending a lot of time with him or her," she explained.
To get parrots to talk, Pepperberg teaches by example. She and a student will have simple conversations with each other about a favorite toy in front of a parrot. They will then try to have the same conversation with the parrot.
To make sure that the parrot isn't just using repetition, Pepperberg will change the conversation slightly until she feels that bird understands the words' meanings.
"[A parrot] may not learn exactly the way a person does," Pepperberg said. "But we still try to teach it to learn the way a small child does."
What's the importance of studying parrots?
According to Pepperberg, scientists use parrots to learn more about how different brains work. For example, looking at parrots can help scientists figure out ways to help children with learning disabilities.
Understanding parrots' skills could also encourage people to protect these birds. "If people think these animals are really smart, they may be more likely to conserve their habitat," Pepperberg explained.
Parrots don't just use their voices to communicate. They also use their feathers.
"You can see when they're relaxed," Pepperberg said. "Their feathers are smooth." When parrots are scared, they fluff up their feathers to try to look bigger.
Parrots aren't the only animals that communicate with people. Some apes can "talk" with sign language!
National Geographic Kids News
March 19, 2004
Can a bird have a sense of humor?
Some people think that N'Kisi, a pet African gray parrot, does. People also say they have done tests that show the parrot has a vocabulary of 950 words and the ability read people's minds!
Scientists aren't convinced, but they do agree that, given proper attention, parrots can learn to speak.
"A bird in someone's house that gets plenty of attention can learn a lot," Irene M. Pepperberg, a university professor and parrot expert, said.
Allison Hales of the World Parrot Trust agreed. "Parrots are sociable birds [but] teaching a young parrot to talk well means spending a lot of time with him or her," she explained.
To get parrots to talk, Pepperberg teaches by example. She and a student will have simple conversations with each other about a favorite toy in front of a parrot. They will then try to have the same conversation with the parrot.
To make sure that the parrot isn't just using repetition, Pepperberg will change the conversation slightly until she feels that bird understands the words' meanings.
"[A parrot] may not learn exactly the way a person does," Pepperberg said. "But we still try to teach it to learn the way a small child does."
What's the importance of studying parrots?
According to Pepperberg, scientists use parrots to learn more about how different brains work. For example, looking at parrots can help scientists figure out ways to help children with learning disabilities.
Understanding parrots' skills could also encourage people to protect these birds. "If people think these animals are really smart, they may be more likely to conserve their habitat," Pepperberg explained.
Parrots don't just use their voices to communicate. They also use their feathers.
"You can see when they're relaxed," Pepperberg said. "Their feathers are smooth." When parrots are scared, they fluff up their feathers to try to look bigger.
Parrots aren't the only animals that communicate with people. Some apes can "talk" with sign language!
