Parrots. The smartest birds
Alex(1976 - September 6, 2007) - African gray parrot, which became famous for the experiments of Ph.D. Irene Pepperberg. The parrot was named after the Avian Language EXperiment (later Avian Learning EXperiment).
The essence of the experiment
Jaco Alex, or the African gray parrot, has been the subject of scientific discussion and research for thirty years. The animal experiment was conducted by psychologist Dr. I. Pepperberg at the University of Arizona, and then at Harvard and Brandeis Universities. The parrot was purchased from a pet store at about one year old. The name of the bird - Alex, became the abbreviation for the name of the training experiment with an animal. Alex's successor was the parrot Griffin.
Prior to Dr. Pepperberg's work, there was a widespread belief in the scientific community that birds are stupid and can only mimic or imitate sounds and human speech, however, the experiment with Alex the parrot demonstrated and proved that birds can analyze and reason logically at a basic level, creatively. using words and short phrases human speech. The psychologist wrote that Alex was "the first swallow in the study of intelligence" standing on the same level in experiments with dolphins and great apes. The researcher demonstrated to the scientific world that the intellectual development of Alex's parrot has reached the level of development of a five-year-old child, and this is not the limit. During the experiment, Pepperberg found out and reported that at the time of death the bird had a level of human emotional development at the age of a two-year-old baby.
Achievements
IN 1999 year dr Pepperberg published Grays Achievements, which states that Alex could define up to fifty various objects and recognize simultaneously up to six objects, he can distinguish seven colors and five shapes, as well as be aware of the concepts of "more", "less", "the same", "different", "for" and "under". The parrot's vocabulary was about 150 words, but what is most exceptional about the experiment and the parrot is that he understood what he was talking about. For example, when Alex was shown an object and asked a question about its shape, color, or material, he gave the correct answers. If a parrot was asked about the difference between two objects, he answered the same or different ("Yes / No"), and - what is the difference. Alex is capable of simple math calculations. When one day the gray was tired of the experiment, he declared: "Wanna go back" (I want to leave), wanting to return to his cage. If the researcher showed irritability and denial, Alex would say, "I'm sorry." When the parrot was offered a nut, he asked in the affirmative: “I want a banana,” and, after waiting silently, asked for bananas again. When they gave him the bolt, instead of food, he threw it at the researcher. During research work with a parrot, 80 percent of the answers were logically correct.
Experiments have shown that Alex can distinguish between objects of the same color, but different in the composition of the materials from which they were made. Dr. Pepperberg taught the parrot to recognize and name the written numbers.
In July 2005, Pepperberg announced that Alex was aware of the meaning of the concept of zero. In July 2006, she discovered that Alex also perceives optical illusions - similar to human perception.
While teaching the parrot to read, Dr. Peppenberg taught the bird to distinguish some letters, as a result, Alex began to identify combination sounds when merging letters of the English alphabet - such as SH and OR.
Alex's death
Alex died on September 6, 2007 at the age of 31. Alex's death was unexpected, since the average lifespan of African gray parrots is about 50 years. The previous day he looked healthy, but in the morning he was found dead. According to a press release published by the Alex Foundation, “Alex was healthy at his last annual physical, two weeks before his death. According to the veterinarian who performed the autopsy, there was no apparent cause of death. " Losing Alex won't stop research, Pepperberg said, but it would be a big step back. There are two more birds in the lab, but their skills don't match Alex's.
On October 4, the Alex Foundation published the pathology report: “Alex died quickly. He had an abrupt, unexpected catastrophic outcome due to arteriosclerosis (blockage of blood vessels). " It was a fatal arrhythmia, heart attack or stroke that caused him to die quickly, without suffering. His death was impossible to predict. All of his tests, including his cholesterol levels, had returned to normal a week earlier. His death could not be related to his current diet or age. The veterinarian said she has seen similar cases in young birds (under 10 years of age) with proper nutrition. Most likely, the causes are genetic, or it is some kind of inflammatory disease that is difficult to detect (cannot be found in birds), akin to heart disease in humans.
The last words Alex said to Pepperberg were: “You be good. I love you "(" Be good. I love you. ").
Bright coloring, the ability to copy a person's speech and interesting habits of parrots with long ago made these birds the favorites of man. Together with representatives of the monitor family, parrots are the smartest birds on Earth. They are sociable, do not tolerate loneliness, and feel comfortable in the company of a person. Currently, there are about 300 species of parrots. The most interesting of them will be discussed in this article.
What kind of birds are these - parrots?
Of the 40 orders and 100 billion individuals of birds living on Earth, one has always stood out, representatives of which can be recognized instantly. And in fact, there is not a single person who does not recognize a parrot at first sight. So, what are the features that allow the bird to be classified as a parrot squad?
First of all, a special beak - massive, short, slightly similar to the beak of a predator. Parrots are very adept at using it. It serves both for gripping and crushing feed, and for climbing tree branches. In addition, it is a very dangerous weapon, as it is unusually strong. A large parrot, without straining, is able to bite into a steel wire a couple of millimeters thick, injure a person, and even kill a small animal. But at the same time, parrots show tenderness to each other with their beaks, show affection for the owner, fingering his hair with their beak
The second sign is the tongue, which is short and fleshy. In many species, it has a depression on the hummock, which allows it to conveniently deal with grains and seeds. In brush-tongued parrots, the tongue ends at the bottom with a special claw, and at the top it has a brush of hard bristles for collecting nectar and juice of tropical fruits
Thirdly, the legs. Parrots have very strong legs, but rather short. There are only four fingers. The first and fourth are directed backward, respectively, the second and third are forward. Nails are short, strongly curved, rather sharp. Each foot is very independent of movement. In addition, the paws help to hold the harvested fruit or nut, and with them the bird brings food to its beak. The flexibility and plasticity of the fingers is surprising. A parrot can take a large Walnut and a small grain of oats. Many species of parrots on the ground move awkwardly, strongly clubfoot. The only exception is the earthen parrot, which runs fast and dexterously.
And, finally, a luxuriously rich color range of plumage. Throughout the avifauna the globe it is unlikely that there will be a detachment competing in the richness of the color of the plumage, with the exception, perhaps, of the chickens (pheasants, peacocks and other birds).
Noble parrots belong to the subfamily of true parrots "Psittacinae". The species is characterized by a sharp difference in color between males and females, which at one time misled researchers: birds were considered two different species - green loris and red loris. This mistake persisted in the literature for a long time, until, during the collection of collection material during research in New Guinea, it was discovered that all the green birds caught were males, and the red ones were females. Later, in nests found in nature, differently colored chicks were found, which made it possible to finally solve this riddle. The noble parrots are characterized by a strong, stocky body with a short square tail and rather long, rounded wings. The beak is large, with a very smooth and shiny beak, which made it possible to distinguish it, together with some other species, into a special group of wax-billed parrots. Feathers are amazingly colored, thin, delicate, with a slight sheen. The noble parrot forms 9 subspecies, differing in color details (mainly in females) and size, which is caused by the habitation of separate, often small, bird populations on numerous isolated islands. Signs of different subspecies are often insignificant and distinguishable only for specialists, therefore, when pairing, it is better for amateurs to focus on the geographical origin of birds from the same region.
The main color of the male is grassy green, with a slight yellowish tinge on the head. The sides of the body are red. The primary flight feathers are blue, the secondary ones are blue with a green outer edge. The fold of the wing and the upper small wing coverts are blue. The underside of the wing is red. The tail is green with blue on the outer feathers, on the underside it is matte black. The lower tail coverts are yellow-green. The upper beak is yellow to coral red with a lighter tip, the lower beak is black. The legs are dark gray. Eye color ranges from black-brown to brownish-red. The body length in different subspecies is from 35 to 45 cm, wing length is from 24 to 27 cm, body weight is from 360 to 400 g.
The plumage of the female is predominantly red, on the head and neck with a carmine tint, on the back and wings it is darker and brownish. The chest, belly, transverse stripe below the occiput, and in some subspecies the ring around the eyes is violet-blue. The fold of the wing is violet-blue, the primary flight feathers and their coverts are blue with green outer edges. The middle and ends of the secondary flight feathers are blue, their outer edge is reddish, and the inner edge is black. The underside of the wing is blue. The tail is brownish-red, and in some subspecies it is yellowish-orange, lighter at the end. Undertail red with yellow edges of feathers or yellow. Eyes light yellow to whitish. The beak is black. The legs are dark gray. Juveniles are colored in the same way as adults, already in nesting plumage, but their upper beak is grayish-brownish, dark yellow at the end. Natural deviations in color are also known: a yellow noble parrot was seen on the island of Halmakhera.
The area of distribution of the noble parrot covers the island of New Guinea and the numerous surrounding islands: Waigeo, Nom, Mios, Salavati, etc., the Chinese islands, the Moluccas (in particular, the island of Halmakhera, after which the parrot is sometimes called), the archipelagos of Louisiade and Palau, Solomon Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, York Peninsula in Australia. The noble parrot lives in dense virgin forests with palms, casuarins, fig trees (the fruits of the latter are a favorite food for many species of parrots) and dense underbrush. They usually meet him singly or in pairs: they were rarely seen in flocks. But there were collective overnights in the hollows in groups of up to 6-8 individuals. It feeds on fruits, nuts, berries, various seeds, tree buds, flowers, nectar. Causes serious damage in places, attacking corn fields and oil palm plantations. In nature, flying parrots often emit a high, piercing cry "krak-krak", repeated 3-4 times. When feeding on trees, birds: talk with pleasant flute sounds "chuvi-chuvi". It has been noted that when mating, the female emits a voiced "chi-tsong", "chi-yong", while feeding the female during courtship, the male emitted a quiet "tok-tok" (in another interpretation, "gong-gong"). The male summoned the female from the hollow with the sounds of "kra-kra". The breeding period does not coincide in time on different islands within the range; in New Guinea, the noble parrot nests since August; on the York Peninsula in Australia - from October to January. It makes nests in the hollows of tall trees in forest fields and along the edges of the forest. The nests found and examined were located at a height of 14-22 m, the entrance holes of the snipe were 25-30 cm in diameter, the depth of the snipe was 30-60 cm. The hollow was lined with wood dust. There are usually two eggs in a clutch and only the female incubates it. The male does not take part in incubation, but keeps close to the nest and periodically feeds the female. Hollow visits very rarely and immediately leaves it.
During the acclimatization period, birds are best kept at room temperature... Birds are generally very sensitive to cold, especially to drafts, and therefore it is better to keep them in a heated room all year round. The outdoor aviary may only be kept in the warmest weeks of summer. The room should be more or less large, as the female can be quite aggressive. In the same room, you can keep a couple, two males, but in no case two females. During this period, the birds are very reluctant to descend to the bottom of the enclosure, so feeders should be located near the perch. The food should be as varied as possible. At the beginning of acclimatization, soft food should be given; a variety of fruits (grapes, cherries, apples, pears, etc.), sunflower sprouts, soaked biscuits, boiled rice. They willingly take corn of milky-wax ripeness, carrots, lettuce, chopped egg. You need to get used to solid food gradually. In the future, the feed can be diversified with boiled beans and lentils, green peas, sunflowers, peanuts, a small amount of hemp seeds, canary seeds, oatmeal, wheat and oats in dry and sprouted form, various nuts. From feed of animal origin, you can give egg feed (mixtures of grated hard-boiled eggs with grated carrots, breadcrumbs and a few drops vegetable oil), a slice of chicken and boiled lean beef. The noble parrot is a typical forest dweller and does not tolerate overheating in the sun. Drinks quite a lot of water, especially if he eats a lot of sunflowers and other dry seeds. He willingly bathes, but does not recognize swimwear at the bottom of the enclosure, preferring water from a spray bottle, wet leaves. Pairing is a well-known difficulty and sometimes takes a long time. When choosing partners, you should pay attention to the fact that both birds are in the same condition. The beaks of young birds turn to adult colors after 12 months in females and after 9-12 months in males. Soon after hatching, the chicks must be separated from their parents, since at this time the birds begin to re-lay and become aggressive towards the young.
Noble parrots are calm, rather silent, tolerant and quickly get used to the owner of the bird. Onomatopoeic abilities are low: birds are only able to learn a few words or sounds. With proper maintenance and feeding, these parrots can live in captivity for tens of years, delighting the owner with their beauty and calm disposition.
PARROTS (Ordo Psittaciformes), order of birds. There are 1 family. 316 species, mostly in the tropics. Length from 9.5 cm to 1 m. Females are smaller than males. The plumage is bright, there is no sexual dimorphism (except for the red-sided parrot from New Guinea). Feather ornaments in the form of crests are not uncommon. The toes are capable of positioning three against one or two against two. Thanks to this, parrots manipulate their fingers almost like hands. All parrots have a massive beak. Many have a good memory and the ability to onomatopoeia. The cerebral hemispheres of parrots are larger than those of other birds, they are even called primates among birds. Their natural language is the most developed among birds. They are monogamous, but live in flocks outside the breeding season. Large parrots have 2-3 eggs in a clutch, small ones - 5-8. Incubation lasts 2-4 weeks. Chicks appear naked and blind and change their downy outfit 2 times before putting on a feather one. 27 species and 14 subspecies in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and natural resources... Many especially beautiful and amusing parrots died out due to their intensive capture.
The earliest center for the emergence of these unlike other birds, apparently, is located in Australia, but parrots are widespread on all continents, except Europe and, naturally, Antarctica. Most of the species nest in tree holes, some in rock crevices, and there are those that dig holes. Most parrots live in nature in large flocks or groups, couples unite only during the mating season.
People have been keeping parrots in captivity since ancient times and are very much appreciated. The pioneers here were probably the ancient Indians, in whose idea every noble man had to teach at least one parrot to speak. Europeans first met parrots in India. The first were the soldiers of Alexander the Great. Birds quickly gained popularity in Greece and later in Rome. With the onset of the Middle Ages, information about tame parrots in Europe disappears and reappears during the Crusades (11-13 centuries). The parrots' amazing ability to imitate human speech impressed the Western Church, and parrots were declared closer to God than other animals. With the conquests of the era of geographical discoveries, new species of parrots from the New World appeared. These birds, to their misfortune, fell into fashion, their high hairstyles were decorated with stuffed animals, lovebirds, as a symbol of fidelity, were certainly presented to their beloved, etc. Many species have disappeared irrevocably. In Russia nowadays there is a real boom in hobby for parrots. They are brought in asleep, filling them with the most incredible and unsuitable hiding places for birds. Many birds die. Therefore, before purchasing a bird, you should find out where it comes from, do not support the smuggling industry.
Many species of parrots have long been domesticated, and their maintenance does not present any particular difficulties. The cage is selected for the parrot in size, often aviaries are arranged where you can keep different species together. Moving into a new cage, birds experience stress and often stop eating. It is necessary to let the parrots fly around the house: this inquisitive bird needs not only to stretch its wings, but also to look around. All kinds of perches, rings and swings are provided in the cages. It is useful for such as cockatoos to exercise their legs with all kinds of shells. If breeding is planned, then nest houses in the form of nest boxes are placed for couples. Young shoots of willow, linden, apple, maple should be in the cage all year round and replaced as they are eaten. In addition to fresh water in the drinking bowl, it is necessary to give honey water 1-2 times a week (1 part honey for 1 part boiled water; a multivitamin tablet is also added here). Alternating with honey water, give water with juice of black and red currants, cranberries. For mineral dressings use crushed for 5 minutes eggshell, chalk, shell rock, charcoal, tablets of calcium gluconate and glycerophosphate and even old plaster... V warm time For years, a piece of meadow or forest sod is put into the cage, sometimes pieces of forest rot. Parrots love to swim, but the water shouldn't be cold.
The natural variety of food for parrots in a home environment cannot be fully reproduced. Birds caught in captivity as adults find it especially difficult to get used to changing feeds. Having bought such a bird, you should offer it food again and again, achieving maximum variety. In large parrots, individuality is clearly manifested in addictions, and what another bird eats, yours may not accept.
Hard food- the basis of nutrition. There should be plenty of it. This is a mixture different varieties millet, oats, wheat, hemp (a little, as they get fat from it), canary seed, sunflower, corn. Add nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts and hazelnuts, almonds, pine nuts). If there is no complete mixture, then individual components can also be given, part of the grain must be unrefined, germinated in spring and winter. When the ears of grain in the fields reach the stage of milky-wax ripeness, they are put to the parrots. The corn needs to be boiled (but not from the can, only the cobs!). Parrots love fresh cottage cheese, they are happy to eat a white roll, especially soaked in milk or tea. The egg is finely chopped, mixed with grated carrots and white bread crumbs (1: 1) and given about every other day (large and medium-sized parrots can be given just a chopped egg). Parrots should not be offered meat, sausage, ham, butter etc. In nature, parrots eat a lot of fruits, drink their sweet juice. In our conditions, sweet varieties of apples and pears and imported tropical fruits, carefully washed, are suitable for them. Of the berries, ripe strawberries and strawberries, raspberries, black currants, fresh and dried mountain ash are suitable (black chokeberry can also be given in small quantities), figs (you can soak in milk). Give slices of melon, watermelon. Parrots love slices of carrots, pumpkins, raw potatoes. For many parrots, flowers are needed as food (marigolds, dandelions, rose hips, marigolds, etc.; this helps to maintain the color of the plumage). As greens put leaves of lettuce, dandelion, cabbage. Parrots' favorite candies should be given in a very limited way, as a reward for learning.
Many small parrots breed well in captivity, even when kept in cages. The main difficulty for most species is not feeding and creating special conditions, but the selection of pairs, since some species are very picky and will never start a family with an unwanted partner. Reproduction of large parrots is fraught with significant difficulties.
Vitally necessary for all parrots, and especially for large, life-giving rays of the sun. In winter, birds are irradiated with a quartz lamp, setting the lamp so that the light reflected from the walls and ceiling falls on the cage.
For parrots, especially medium and large, living alone, communication with a person is vital. Having fallen in love with a person, the parrot seeks to "clean his feathers", loves to be stroked and scratched, reminding in this respect many cats. The main condition for teaching a parrot to human speech is that it must be without a pair. Young birds naturally learn faster than adults. Among parrots there are individuals that are smart and stupid, incapable. If you want to teach a parrot, you need to pronounce the words many times, clearly. However, a parrot can remember what was said once. Many birds obviously not only repeat the words, but also understand their meaning, call the owners, warn of danger (for example, that a cat has come). Although parrots often get along well with cats, dogs, and rodents, you shouldn't risk it. Many parrots are surprisingly vindictive. Often, having fallen in love with one of the family members, a parrot cannot stand other family members, or even jealous of his wife, children (this is what large parrots sin). Correcting character flaws in this bird is not easy.
The maximum recorded lifespan in captivity is 60 years. The existing legends about 200 and even 300-year-old cockatoos and grays are just fiction.
What are the species of parrots? Parrots are divided into small (budgerigars, lovebirds, cockatiel nymphs, grass parrots, rosella), medium (necklace parrots, lorises, wedge-tailed parrots), large (macaw, gray, cockatoo, Amazonian parrots or Amazons).
Amazon parrots are considered one of the best imitators of human speech and belong to the "Talking Parrots" group. They quickly get used to a new environment and are very affectionate to a person, but less mobile than a gray, calmer, prefer human company. Amazons are famous for their good appetite, easy friendly disposition with a minimum of psychological problems, and can live up to 80 years. Their intelligence is a bit lower than, say, a Grays, but their ability to imitate speech is excellent. The bird talker is distinguished by intelligence and ingenuity. It's about Jaco. The Amazons are in second place by a small margin. Please note that by law, live goods cannot be returned or replaced. And therefore, when choosing a feathered friend, you need, as they say, to look both ways. The first indicator of a parrot's health is its plumage. Glossy, sleek, feather to feather plumage is a sure sign of excellent health. If the bird is sick or under stress, it often begins to pluck its feathers. It will be quite difficult to wean the bird from this habit in the future. Of the large parrots among birdwatchers, the most common are the Amazonian parrots, of which there are about 26 known species. Their homeland is the tropical part of America. Most Amazonian parrots are found in the forests of the Amazon Basin. They endure captivity easily. Like gray parrots, they are wonderful indoor birds. They quickly master in a new environment, are unpretentious to feed, strongly attached to a person, meek, sweet and capable of learning. These are very capable birds, and individuals are often found pronouncing more than 80 words and phrases.
To date, there is no single answer to the question of which parrots are the smartest in the world. This is due to the fact that in captivity they survive, and, accordingly, are subjected to detailed study no more than one third of all existing species of a large order. In addition, few scientists ask themselves the question of studying the intelligence of parrots, and only a few cases of successful practice of developing the mental abilities of birds are known in the world.
The ability to reproduce human speech has several species of parrots. So, cockatoo can remember up to two dozen words and several sentences. Lori are distinguished by their ability to reproduce fifty words and four to five sentences. And some are able to repeat about 100 words, but very rarely speak in sentences. But the most intelligent and capable of learning is the breed of parrots, the Gray.
The smartest species of parrots
Parrots differ not only in the ability to repeat up to 1000 human words. Also, this breed can quite consciously maintain a conversation with a person. There are cases when a jaco memorized about three hundred sentences, and it is quite appropriate to use them in speech. In addition, these birds are very successful in imitating various sounds, including the voices of birds and animals.
The most famous and intelligent parrot in the world is the gray parrot named Alex. Besides him, not a single parrot has been able to learn to count to eight. And Alex is quite good at that. But Alex's achievements did not end there. He quite successfully determined the colors and shapes of objects, knew how to combine the presented figures into groups, and distinguished the materials from which the objects were made. Over the years of its training, this parrot has managed to reach the level of development of a five-year-old child, and this has won universal respect.
A bird in a cage is a symbol of bondage. But not all birds perceive such a neighborhood with humans in this way. Many keep canaries at home, wonderful singers who prefer solitude. Finches are also popular as pets. These birds are unpretentious and quickly become tame. But parrots, of course, are beyond competition. What are the smartest parrots? This is what we will try to find out.
Mind or beauty?
What are the smartest and most talkative parrots called? If you are attracted by beauty, brightness, then take a look at arata. They do not shine with intelligence, but they are beautiful and quickly get used to their owners. Just keep in mind that if you are a lover of silence, their loud voice will soon become annoying. Don't be afraid of big birds, get a macaw. Very bright, with a powerful beak. In handling such a pet, caution does not hurt. Amazons are much smaller, more affectionate and sociable. Plus, she never minds chatting. These parrots are easy to train, and if they move, they will quickly get used to their new habitat. If you want a feathered companion for life, check out the cockatoo. With good care, he will live with you for decades. Cockatoo is an intellectual, besides, it can be capricious, so do not be lazy to educate him. The more you talk to him, the more words he will remember, and on occasion he will be able to amuse guests. But if intelligence is the main thing that interests you in a parrot, you need a gray.
Talented "smuggler"
This parrot is a talent. There is such a genre on the stage - sound simulation. So, the smartest parrot (breed - gray) here can compete with any artist. He is able to memorize up to one and a half thousand words, not counting other sounds. One of them became known all over the world for pronouncing sentences in different languages... Others were seen performing songs that were often played in the house. Such abilities did not play a very positive role in the fate of this species of parrots. Despite the rather nondescript appearance, this is perhaps the most popular parrot for keeping in captivity. This has led to a decline in the population in nature. Nowadays, it is only possible to trade Grays removed from their natural habitat with a special permit. There are few people in Russia who would professionally breed them, so most of the parrots are smuggled to us.
Raising a parrot
The most smart parrots in the world they are not just mindlessly repeating the sounds they hear. Research has shown that they can understand what subject in question, distinguish colors, shapes and even serial numbers. In nature, you will immediately understand that you are approaching their flock. Whistling, screaming and screeching are heard from afar. At home, this can be supplemented by a phone call or an alarm clock. You have to put up with this. Try not to show next to the gray that you are in a bad mood, annoyed or offended. The parrot will copy your behavior. This is the element of education. They need to be dealt with immediately.
Wonderful family man
For some reason, it is believed that the gray is a loner. But if you leave it to yourself, it will not lead to anything good. The parrot may even get depressed. To avoid this, he needs to provide a sufficiently large cage, and regularly "walk". It is advisable to equip a space for a pet that he could consider his own. Ropes, some kind of wooden objects, things to play with. And one more thing: for a parrot from time to time it is necessary to "spread the feathers", that is, to fly at least a little. They are very sociable in nature. In addition, the gray is a wonderful family man. But if you regularly work with him, you do not need to start a pair. Human communication will be enough for him. And for the owner, such a bird can become not only an interesting live toy, but also an interlocutor. It is noticed that the words that it knows, the parrot does not use randomly, but to the point.
Jealous Grays
Jaco is the smartest among the parrots. Among animals, Alfred Brehm found only one match for him: the monkey. Sometimes his intelligence level is the same as that of a three-year-old toddler. Such a high opinion of the bird is also based on long-term observations of its habits in nature. So they exhibit highly intelligent behavior not only at home. But when communicating with a person, it, of course, manifests itself more. At correct upbringing and leaving, the owner is perceived by the parent, and subsequently as a family partner. Therefore, such a gray can "accept with hostility" another parrot. And people too. Therefore, if guests come to you, first talk to a parrot for a few minutes. Such conclusions are made on the basis of thousands of years of experience in keeping them in captivity. If you believe the legends, then it was the favorite poultry of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. But if you decide to become like the rulers of the Nile, then first compare them living conditions with their. A cramped apartment is not suitable for such a tenant. In addition to the fact that there will be nowhere to equip a "living corner", he simply does not have enough space for a flight.
Capricious favorite
It is common knowledge that Grays are very talkative. But it's not a fact that yours will become just that. You can read "Ruslana and Lyudmila" aloud near him as much as you like, and he will remember the foul expression or snort of a motorcycle that escaped in his hearts, which a neighbor starts up under your window every morning. These parrots are very attached to humans, but at the same time they are very difficult to train. Demand to devote a lot of time to themselves. And they demand - in the literal sense of the word. They are capable of being offended, just like people. Consider this if you are going to make yourself an exotic friend. Well, if you decide, then first find out as much as possible about the gray.
Expensive pleasure
You already know what the smartest parrots are called. A male or a female? In the case of these parrots, this is not important. Gender does not affect mental abilities. But if for some reason this is important for you, then keep in mind: it is not easy to distinguish between a boy in front of you, or a girl. Most reliable is a veterinarian, or even a DNA test. This is, of course, not cheap. And the gray itself costs a lot of money. Get ready to shell out several tens of thousands of rubles. Subsequent content will also cost a pretty penny. It's not a budgie, after all. And how much you have to pay depends on where the foreign guest came from. Caught at home is cheap, but at first it will be very afraid of you. But health, like that of a hero. The most precious thing is the gray, which the parents began to bring up and feed, and the people finished. He is accustomed to a person, affectionate and sociable. But the health of such a fosterling must be monitored more closely.
Dangerous individualist
Jaco is an individual, and he chooses for himself the one with whom he will be more willing to communicate. This person may well become not you, but another member of the family. And if, nevertheless, you made friends with him, know that on his part it will be "love to the grave." If you are leaving, there should be someone at home with whom the parrot communicates no less willingly. And don't be away for a long time! Everything is like with a child. Only this "baby", besides the usual whims, can be dangerous. Pecking, pinching, biting is in its nature, there is nothing you can do about it. Just be careful. And in no case let him sit on your neck. Earlier, it was not in vain that it was mentioned about upbringing. The parrot should have a regime and rules of behavior that he will get used to adhere to. But it still won't get rid of bruises and bites.
Get ready, if you decide to have a gray, for another change in your life. If you like to laze in bed, he will quickly wean you from it. The first ray of the sun can bring joy to the bird, which manifests itself in a loud cry. Many reasons can cause the same manifestation of emotions. Boredom if you forgot to talk to your "tenant", hunger or thirst. Hearing such screams all the time, think about whether you have installed the cage correctly. A bad place can be stressful.
In nature
Jaco is the only one of its kind. Distinguish only brown and red-tailed. The only difference is in the color of the feathers. It is interesting to keep such a bird at home, of course, if you are ready to deal with it for several hours a day, but it is no less interesting to observe them in nature. Their nests are in the hollows of trees. They live in flocks, but they are still divided into pairs. Moreover, one family can be for life. They leave for feeding early in the morning and return in the evening. Tens of kilometers can fly. You can't get a pair of parrots without a mating dance. This can go on for a whole day, for several minutes. If you hear a puppy whimpering from a flock of Grays, then this is not a dog at all. So gray ladies' men lure females. And those at this time pretend to be asking for food. Then their chicks will behave similarly. But first, the female sits on eggs for about a month. And then she does not immediately leave her kids. Protection and feeding is provided by the father. Everything is almost like people.
Parrots are chosen as pets for their cheerful, mischievous, restless disposition, ability to learn speech and tricks. By purchasing a parrot, you get not just a bright exotic bird, but a full-fledged family member who can socialize and communicate with you. However, the intellectual abilities of different types parrots differ, so if you want to get a really smart pet, you will be interested to know who among these birds is considered the smartest.
The smartest parrots
The following are 6 species of birds from the Parrot family that truly have extraordinary intellectual abilities and a talent for learning. They will be able not only to memorize several dozen words, but also to analyze them, skillfully applying them in everyday life. Understanding what this or that breed is capable of, it will be easier for you to make the right choice.
Important! The most outstanding communication skills and intelligence are possessed by representatives large breeds, therefore, when choosing, you need to focus on them.
Jaco
The African gray parrot, or gray, rightfully takes first place in the ranking. Jaco is recognized as the most talented and intelligent among parrots for the ability not only to memorize and reproduce human speech, but also to associate words with objects that they denote. 
They can even understand the concept of shape, number, color. It is believed that the most gifted representatives of the species can memorize up to one and a half thousand words. Under natural conditions, Grays constantly copy the sounds around them - various cries, whistles, squeals and clicks, which are emitted by other species of animals.
Did you know?A gray parrot named Alex (1976-2007) was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the smartest of parrots. He learned about 150 words, 7 colors, 5 types of shapes. The researchers claim that the parrot understood what he was talking about, and 80% of his answers during the research were logical.
In captivity, the bird will also obey instinct and repeat everything it hears: intercom sounds, calls mobile phone, hum washing machine, creak of doors. The pet will also imitate the emotions of the owners: joy, irritability, etc.
Get ready for the fact that the bird will constantly create a sound background of different volumes, will often try to shout down the TV, and interfere with your telephone conversation. Sometimes the owners of the Grays joke that it is more difficult to silence this bird than to speak. A well-trained gray may even become a teacher for another species of parrots. 
It is necessary to train your pet for a few minutes every day. Memorizing words should be appropriate to the situation and be spoken with emotion. The advantage of this bird is that even in the absence of special conversational training, the bird will sooner or later begin to communicate with you.
The Jaco can be described as independent, wayward, self-confident and even a little self-centered, as well as very social and jealous. They are strongly attached to family members and require a lot of attention, endless patience and strength from the owner.
It is very important to buy a feathered early age(up to 4 months) or an adult educated pet. If you are unlucky enough to buy a bird caught in adulthood and imported illegally, it can be extremely difficult to find an approach to it - on its part, detachment, isolation and even aggression are possible. Therefore, you need to buy these birds in nurseries. 
Cockatoo
Irrepressible merry fellows with an endless supply of energy, optimism, cheerfulness and artistry - this is how the second parrot from our rating, the cockatoo, can be characterized. In addition to their high intelligence, parrots have an excellent sense of rhythm, due to which they love to sing and dance.
They can learn a couple of dozen phrases and words, they begin to speak very quickly, and are extremely sociable by nature. But this feature also has a downside - birds require so much human attention that they can be very intrusive. 
Speech training should be carried out daily, in short lessons of 10 minutes in the morning and evening. A couple of times a week (on weekends) you can work with the parrot for longer, up to half an hour. The bird has a strong innate curiosity, loves to explore the world, in most cases tactile (beak, claws).
In order not to let the cockatoo get bored, it must be equipped with a sufficient number of toys, puzzles, a mirror - during your absence, the bird will talk to its reflection. However, it is highly discouraged to leave the parrot alone for a long time, since even a day without communication with the flock (with its owner) will be very stressful for the pet.
Important!Proven that learningit is better goes with women and children, because high voices parrots are perceived better than shorter ones.
Macaw
These parrots are the largest members of the family, possess extraordinary beauty and equally outstanding intellectual abilities. 
The success of training will directly depend on the age of the feathered and your attitude towards him: if you take a young pet, treat him with patience and care, pay a lot of attention, he will begin to communicate quite easily and quickly.
But with the manifestation of cruelty or indifference, the pet can respond with counter aggression, and in some cases even become dangerous. The macaw's communication skills are somewhat lower than that of the two previous species, but experts often compare its intelligence with that of cats and small dogs.
There are gifted representatives of the breed who can memorize 50–100 words and a few sentences, as well as learn funny tricks. Therefore, it is very important to observe the parrot before buying and study its character, habits and readiness to make contact.
Once accepting its owner, the parrot shows strong affection for him, but shows distrust and hostility to other family members. 
With regular training and an attentive, affectionate attitude, macaws can be taught very interesting things:
- eat with a spoon,
- pretend to be dead
- play hide and seek and the ball,
- climbing a tightrope
- roll a miniature cart,
- and even rollerblading, created specifically for the feathered!
Amazons
These parrots rank fourth in intelligence in terms of intelligence, but their onomatopoeic abilities are truly outstanding. In addition to imitating animal sounds, musical instruments, human words and songs, they can also be taught simple tricks.
The Amazons are relatively good at taming, they are easy to contact, they show their talents without hesitation even in front of a large audience. Amazons can memorize up to a hundred words. 
Training should be carried out 3-4 times daily, at the same time (preferably before feeding), the duration of one lesson is within 40 minutes. For the duration of the lesson, if possible, you need to ensure silence in the room. After completing the parrot, you need to praise, give a treat and scratch your head.
It is believed that male Amazons are more capable of onomatopoeia, although females can be very capable pupils. When training, get ready for the fact that the bird will remember the first words with difficulty, but when the first ten words have already been learned, further training will become much easier and more effective.
Important! Amazons are especially active in showing their conversational skills in the early morning and evening. When buying a pet, you need to be ready to wake up to the sounds of a barking dog, violin or siren, which the feathered one so loves to imitate.
Monk
The monk parrot (Quaker or Kalita) is ranked fifth in the ranking of the most intelligent birds. Like other relatives, he is curious, energetic, smart. 
Provided constant training, patience, effort and positive reinforcement of the results, he can learn to reproduce human speech, as well as perform tricks.
Monks adapt well to bondage conditions and quickly become attached to the owner. They can learn a dozen words and phrases without any problems. However, before buying this species, you should definitely listen to its voice: for many, the cries of a monk's parrot are very harsh, hoarse and loud, almost unbearable, for others they are comparable to tender bird chirping.
The advantage of this species is in the completely non-conflict, friendly and peaceful nature of these birds. They easily get used to all family members, quickly learn names, and get along well with other pets.
Kea
Separately, it is worth mentioning the kea parrots, which, although they are not domestic, have very high intellectual abilities. This bird can be called arrogant, overly curious and even arrogant. 
In the homeland of kea parrots, in New Zealand, they have earned a very unkind reputation due to their excessive curiosity, the need to actively explore the world around them (including the contents of cars, houses, garbage cans and dumps), as well as because of the enormous harm caused by parrots to livestock and agriculture. the farm.
This is why the birds for a long time shot, as a result, their number has dramatically decreased. In 1970, the extermination of kea was banned, and now the birds are listed in the International Red Book.
Did you know?Kea parrots are excellent predators. In exceptional cases, experienced and strong birds can attack sheep, as they love to feast on lard. The bird bites into the back of the sheep's body, and if the animal takes flight, the parrot pursues it until it is completely exhausted. After the death of the sheep, the whole flock flocks to feast on fresh carcasses.
But tourists are very pleased to watch inventive birds, which is why they were even nicknamed "clowns of the mountains" (this species lives at an altitude of 1500 m). 
Budget parrot: smart or not
Many people are interested in the intellectual abilities of the budgerigar - a very popular feathered pet. In different specific individuals, intelligence and abilities will differ, but in general, all representatives of this species have a good memory.
Unlike its larger counterparts, the budgie behaves less aggressively, it is much calmer, friendly and affectionate. His speaking skills and onomatopoeia are very well developed.
It was the feathered breed of this breed named Pak that got into the Guinness Book of Records as a parrot with the largest vocabulary of 1728 words, which corresponds to the full vocabulary of a 5-year-old kid and is much higher than the average number of words used by a person in everyday speech.
It is also worth noting that wavy parrots are among the five most talkative species of parrots. However, the pet is unlikely to communicate with you meaningfully - several dozen learned words and phrases will be pronounced, most likely, without logical justification. 
Speaking lessons are more successful with young males - it will be much more difficult to teach females to speak, as well as adult non-speaking individuals. Thus, parrots are not just beautiful chirping birds, but intelligent, intellectually developed birds, whose ingenuity at times is comparable even to the abilities of chimpanzees.
All this makes them full-fledged family members who will need high-quality communication and spending time together.
