Buzz
Did you know that birds are the only animals, besides humans, that can replicate human language? Some bird species can copy the sounds from their surroundings and even mimic a few words. Birds like crows, mynah birds, ravens, and hummingbirds can all imitate certain sounds. However, parrots excel at reproducing human speech. They can learn to speak hundreds of words and grasp the meanings of some of them. For instance, an African Grey parrot named Einstein, living at the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee, is able to say around 200 words.
About half of all bird species are known to sing. They learn their songs from other birds, thanks to a part of their brain called the 'song system.' Within this system is a component called the 'inner core,' which is crucial for helping birds learn how to produce sounds. Parrots also have an additional part of the song system known as the 'outer shell.' Scientists believe this helps parrots excel at sound imitation, though the precise mechanism is still unclear.
Parrots are social animals, meaning they desire to belong to a group. In the wild, parrots communicate with each other using bird calls. However, around humans, parrots often imitate human speech because they see their owners as part of their new family, or 'flock.' They replicate human sounds to fit in with their human companions. Parrots are also remarkably intelligent. African Grey parrots, such as Einstein, possess an intelligence comparable to that of a 5-year-old child. With training, some parrots can learn the meanings of words, identify their favorite foods, and even count up to eight.
To watch and hear Einstein interact with her trainer and sing "Happy Birthday,"check out this TED talk.
