How a Parrot Learns its Name in the Wild

Biologist Karl Berg asks the question, "How do parrots learn their names?" Are they genetically encoded or are the learned from their parents? In this video, Producer Marc Dantzker delves into Karl's work and explains how this simple question is shedding light on one of nature's most complex communication systems.
#birds #parrot #birdwatching #parrots

[@r.b.4611]

Thanks for a wonderfully CLEAR depiction of this wonderful evidence.

[@bettysmith4527]

I have a Parrotlet and can vouch for this. When I call his name, which is Clyde, he answers with the same distinct chirp every time and purks his head up. He also says "I wanna come out" when I walk up to his cage, and keep in mind I didn't teach him the "I" part, because I would always say "you" want to come out. He was able to learn to use "I" on his own. He also yells through the door "take a shower" when I am heading into do that, despite not being able to see me. He tells me when he wants water, food etc. They are so intelligent, more intelligent then some people I have run into. You learn a lot about yourself, like that I said "Oh shit" when I drop stuff, now he does the same. The point is they aren't just mimicking our language, they actually know the meaning of what they are saying! Love him to pieces, he is six years old and I have had him since he was being hand fed. No better pet then a parrot (as long as you have the time to give them the large amount of attention they require)!

[@boondockmom]

This was fabulous! Having raised a parrot or two I knew they understood what they were saying, that it had a reference for them and it wasn't just for treats. I will have to share this !!!Thank you for posting!

[@teardropface]

I also agree that most parrots is not just mimicking. They know the meaning to the word. My Mango is 16- months old budgie that has a vocabulary of 121 words so far and at least 127 different phrases/sentences. When I teach him a word/phrase/sentence, I show him the action so he can relate. Mango can tell colors because I named his easter egg toys according to their colors. When we count, I also do the action. When I say "Let's watch T.V.", I immediately do the action so he can understand.

[@sickcat-nu4ci]

Maybe empty-nesters should just get a bird ahhah, if you somehow see this I'd love to get a status update on Mango :)

[@hgoodrich6116]

Very cool! I thought the "names" would come from learning rather than genetics because of the way my own "flock" of parakeets addresses me. Although they recognize their own "English Language" names, we all (including me) respond to specific parakeet calls.

[@AnonRanGER01]

I love videos like this. The internet has made me knowledgeable about all kinds of useless things.

[@HurryUpWe_reDreaming]

"Hey, I'm Bob. I'm Bob. I found some food, in gonna go that way. I'm Bob." OMG, I can't help but laugh at that EVERYTIME!! xD

[@LemonLoverCockatiel]

Absolutely facinating. Plus those little chicks were adoreable. The parents were very pretty as well.

[@singlos1]

My 38 year old (wild caught) Red Lored Amazon made up a name for me. He calls me "Joe Honey". As common as the name Joe is, I don't have any friends with that name and never used it around my bird.

[@redhummingbird171]

thanks for fuelling the illegal and destructive wildlife trade

[@carlosleon8224]

I remind you that this was 38 years ago when the last thing on my mind at the time was to bring him home. I agree with the bans but am GRATEFUL that he has a loving home. NO health issues in 38 years. Thank you

[@NineCatsz]

@@redhummingbird171 Are you serious? SMH. You are deluded to think all captive birds are illegally wild caught. They are CAPTIVE BORN AND BRED!

[@redhummingbird171]

NineCatsz Wow that’s a 4 year comment you’re replying. And he specifically said it was wild caught. Learn to read better before speaking.

[@Tymdek]

Damn, I knew parrots were amazing, but this is just...wow.

[@dawngilbert9251]

...very cool. I would think that whales, dolphin and elephants might have names because of their tight and long lasting familial bonds and intelligence. Maybe no one has studied/verified/documented that yet though...

[@Noobnarwhal]

Dolphins have individual `names` too, i saw it in one documentary.

[@rick2112rkrk]

This is absolutely beyond amazing! Thank you

[@deepashtray5605]

I let my bird choose his own name... bad idea. He only answers to Thraknar, Slayer of Hairless Apes!

[@glistenhorns]

never underestimate the power in a birds brain!

[@jilliemak2024]

Loved this....glad I found your channel!

[@antMANscochiey]

0:26 "Now kiss!"

[@PTEC]

ꀤ saw this comment yesterday but never clicked on the timestamp. But while looking at the screenshot ꀤ took, ꀤ just now got it.

[@olliespackmate9260]

Amazing, makes me like my sons parrot more

[@pontiacfirebirdtransam8943]

Very interesting! Thank you. 😊👍

[@1forthepeople969]

This is pretty amazing. Really enjoyed your video. Thank you for sharing.

[@r.ridderbusch7303]

Now THAT is deserving of a Ph.D. Great work Dr. Berg.

[@justarusty1]

Chuck, thank you so much. My husband has been threatening to harm her if she doesn't stop. I told him he was reinforcing her behavior. I'll try this! I love her and have had her for 19 years.

[@sweetpeatalks]

That was really interesting and amazing! I have two parrotlets, and they both know their names: Sweet Pea and Kiwi. I got each when they were 7 weeks old, so it makes me wonder what names their parents gave them :)!

[@bettysmith4527]

This is no surprise. I have a 6.5 year old Parrotlet and he knows his name and a bunch of other words and phrases which he says, and he knows what they mean, and to change You to I when he is speaking. They are absolutely amazing!

[@charleshendrick7266]

Indeed the level of smarts these creatures have! My 30 yo Amazon associates words with actions just like a child of 2-4 years old and uses language to communicate, not just to imitate. I love him dearly and he is my best friend. Thanks for the awesome vid!

[@birdbird7372]

"hey I'm bob, I'm bob"

[@divyayadahalli6634]

these parrots are amazing. i did not know they choose their own name. its wonderful. thank you. but i didnot understand how do they mimic people's voice. and why dont they mimic animals sounds in forest????????. please let me know.

[@Rubbe87]

probebly becuse of going insane by captivity and lack of social interactions

[@ChaosAria]

I have an Oranged Winged Amazon. She was a wild caught bird. She's going to be 31. She does have a name for me and a different one for my son. She has always made to same sound to get my attention. My Yellow Naped Amazon is 3 and a talker who was bred in this country. When he wants me, he calls my son's name in my voice.

[@ChaosAria]

I got her 32 years ago before they were bred in this country.

[@ChaosAria]

Minshino That was your choice. This parrot that I have had for 32 wasn't being purchased as nobody wanted her because she wasn't a talker. She was there before they stopped importing them. She is a very loving bird and very much part of my family. I am glad to have her and can't imagine my life without her.

[@PBWillyWonka]

wish i had a job like carl's, working on something he love and not worrying about anything else.

[@andreweisen99]

These babies are so cute

[@hayleym9757]

I have a green-rumped parrotlet and this was fascinating. I was about to say I wonder what she's saying to me but I'm pretty sure it's almost always 'where is the millet?'

[@kristinetaylor2121]

LOVE this! thankyou!

[@LarissaLurid]

Agreed. For example, my macaws will ask to be picked up, tell us when they want food, etc. That's not just random mimicry, they know what they are asking for.

[@lovelyloren333]

Carl is Brilliant! I raise Parrotlets and have observed they learn names rather quickly. The males even mimic them.

[@nestof3]

Fascinating video. Thank you!

[@suzannedawson5822]

I don't know how my 2 birds learned their names but they use them in clever ways. They know the meanings of several words and I've witnessed them putting words together to get certain things. I am absolutely certain, they are not just mimics. They use language to communicate. Of that I have no doubt. It would be an interesting study to try to decipher the actual language parrots use with each other in the wild.

[@AnnaRusevaNews]

My Macaw is speaking English in a context of what is going on. I am sure that there is a lot more about parrots.

[@karengoodman6103]

The language in prairie dogs is equally as complex,to the point where they have adjectives that describe in detail a predator, a benign person approaching them, etc.

[@fayewirth2776]

Thank you, nogero7! You express my sentiments exactly! Apparently, not too many people think like we do...or maybe they don't have time to respond...anyway, it makes me happy to know that there is at least one person out there who thinks like I do! ( :

[@VvAndromedavV]

Wow! What an amazing study. I have two birds. One is a brown-headed parrot named Jimmy and he knows variations of his name (Jim, Jimmy-bird, Jimmy-immy). The other is a green cheeked conure named Bubba and he seems to have chosen this own name as "B." He will occasionally say, "Hey, bubba" but 95% of the time he says, "Hi, B. Hi, B." We did not teach him this; it's something he came up with himself. They also talk in context but that's another matter entirely. :-)

[@Drummerking3010]

1:53 the cutest thing i have ever seen

[@Bohewulf]

amazing! thanks 4 upload.

[@leilajulia4552]

The first parrot in this video is an Amazona Ventralis endemic from the Dominican Republic. I love this bird.

[@emmacorsa]

wow, this is amazing. I love birds so much!!!!!

[@archtansterpg4246]

Love the "I'm bob" bit.

[@NiekopTube]

I don't hear names, but I hear a clear discussion among the parents and the chicks about the amount of money they will donate to Greenpeace, this year.

[@dawngilbert9251]

Lol!

[@NVanHiker]

Greenpeace is rich enough.

[@sunilnikhade2847]

@@dawngilbert9251 ड

[@Clint_the_Audio-Photo_Guy]

That's a HUGE microphone Karl! :D

[@Discotheparakeet]

I agree - I think most of the parrots really do get the context, and are not just mimicking. My parakeet, who is an excellent mimic, seems to understand parts of speech (grammar), but I don't think he understands words in context nearly to the extent that, say, your birds do, if he understands context at all. (And that's OK - he's great just like he is, and since I love linguistics and grammar, it's truly fascinating for me.)

[@MamaBirdsfriend]

Oh mine all have the capability to learn and problem solve..observing rather than dismissing their intelligence is the key to learning about the domesticated birds in my aviary.

[@AllChintzAndFluff]

i got a little upset when they swapped the eggs :/ but great video anyway! i lol'd when he said: 'they all PERK UP' and bam! ALL EYES WIDE OPEN :D

[@tarundanda8211]

very good video interesting and can you please tell me what food u give to them while breeding they look very healthy .

[@Alyenbird]

I got a huge kick out of your example of Bob. My Goffin's Cockatoo's name is Bob. He says his name all the time, but he also knows my name and calls my mom Grandma. When grandma goes out of town he calls her name a lot more often.

[@annafowdy]

I heard of an African Grey that ordered a bunch of snacks using Alexa.

[@fredricksimen]

"Strawberries. Strawberries. Strawberries. Peanut."

[@jjayp1]

I believe it

[@wirats.6998]

Very amazing !

[@TheKimberly1975]

Fascinating! Now the next question is: who assigns the names? The parents or the chicks themselves? I imagine you'd have to work backwards from the point of "name" ID and see who "said" it first; the parents or the chicks? I'd be interested to know the answer!

[@Flash45]

try not reinforcing negative behavior. When your parrot exhibits negative behaviors do not respond by scolding or otherwise providing attention to the bird. What works best for screeching is to not say anything and just cover the cage completely with a sheet. Leave sheet in place only for 5 minutes or soon after the bird stops screeching. Your parrot will soon learn that screeching results in the cage being covered. It is important not to leave the cage covered longer than 5 mins or lesson lost.

[@jjayp1]

This. If you react aggressively, they are seeing that as attention and will know going forward this behavior emits a funny response. Wait until they don't think you're reacting to the behavior and cover the cage with a blanket. That just tells them it's time to sleep

[@ScottMansfield]

Fascinating.

[@007gary1]

Parrotlets are great because they chirp and chatter but don't screech. They are a true parrot in a tiny package.

[@rakeshwarsingh6882]

thank you for sharing with us

[@janemillerick9614]

..can you imagine the names they give us?! that would be worth discovering..

[@kobygreybird4974]

I live with 2 African grey parrots. They have created a name for me: "Me." They make separate noises for different wants: food in general, go to their cage, go to the kitchen, go to where I am, telling me someone is outside, saying the name of the person outside (if it is a person they know). When I leave home, I say, "Be right back." One of the birds will say, "Be right back" only when she sees me picking up keys.

[@jjayp1]

When my TV turns off at night, without fail, "Its bedtime, Bruener". And when the phone rings she doesn't react to the ring, she knows exactly when I answer and says "hello" 1/4 second before I do. And she often carries on her own dialogue lol. "Yep. Okay. Um....(jobberish). Hahahaha (sighs). Uh-huh. What? No. No biting. Stop being bad. You go outside! I love you though. Yup. Alright. You too. Okay bye."

[@HandsomeMoose]

1:52 That is just to cute.

[@hunterXhuruka]

amazing...and very interesting information!

[@somethinggtwo]

Hi my name is peep, these are my cousins beep poop peepeep and meep

[@fradlows6743]

they have old stories about the earth probably

[@richards6363]

I just got the latest newsletter from the Orinthology Lab. It's great!

[@EdVidz]

I love science and had always wondered why Eskimos aren't born with Texas accents. They talk like their parents. Goober, this stuff is mesmerizing.

[@manandsea]

This was very interesting. Thank you.

[@ParrotsRUS1]

thank you for this video! very cool

[@flychomperfly]

this may be the first, but there might be an earlier study. there was a study reported last year how the wild parrots in australia were learning human words from feral parrots. i also have some cross-species communication evidence if anyone is interested.

[@WishingBabyX]

I don't know why did I laugh when the person speaking said "I'm bob".

[@DavidBennettplus]

In a nest of several baby parrots, how do they each learn which name to attribute to themselves and not to one of their siblings? How do the parents teach an individual baby in a nest full of siblings?

[@iutubsacs]

I wonder if the conclusion can be extrapolated to all parrots. We know that parrotlets are very smart.

[@aliahaguilar8946]

So cute

[@xXAISPXx]

It has to be the parent for the choices you gave for two reasons: the chicks haven't fully developed their communication (but they can still communicate like a baby mumbling) and the chicks depend on mimicry.

[@rashlinahmad1130]

I love parrots

[@paul_owen]

simply amazing!

[@thekongstocks]

- UNREAL FOOTAGE -

[@gabrielmartinez-wi8bu]

I love parrots, i have four.A male eclectus, two indian ringneck a green. and a violet, and caique black headed:)))

[@bm4eh4l]

AWSOME GREAT VIDEO GREAT INFO GREAT COMMENTARY THANKS A LOT

[@deedeecmt]

i agree to this of the bigger parrots ive got. my grey more than my macaw but they know what words r reactions to put to things happening and how they feel. they amaze me

[@35abdelkarim]

god bless you of these amazzing pawsome infos

[@EricBryan]

Wow great video!

[@sodacoaster]

amazing. Super cool. Amazing, incredible!!!!

[@mehul42]

Excellent video......

[@ajallen9674]

My parakeet used to meow. :3

[@margui6224]

Very interesting!

[@Techition]

A number of us are also quite aware of it but self preservation is a strong instinct. I have a nutritional deficiency that causes me to require a lot of protein just to survive. The only way I can get enough protein is through meats, Trust me, I've tried supplementing it via beans and veggies and all that, doesn't work. So does that make me ignorant due to having no other choice? I'm hoping you don't think so, sadly some vegans have in the past. I love animals a lot, but I love being alive too.

[@TheCarrottTop]

Hi there, just wondering A) how do the chicks differentiate their parent's call/voice from other adults (and would they still perk up for feeding if another adult came?). B) How do you guys recognise that the chicks sound either like their biological parents or their foster? Cheers.

[@californiaflocks]

Very Interesting

[@erinshorty09]

Wouldn't this be very similar to a human child living part of his/her life in, say, the US, then moving to England and eventually having an English accent?

[@ettiene87]

GREAT INFO.........I would like to know how Carl get the birds to inhabit the nests??

[@BartCoppens]

Not all of them are happy. My parrot is certainly happy though. And I love him. There will always be shitty owners, as with any type of pet. We need to educate people about parrots and prevent them from making the wrong choice of pet.

[@toserveman9317]

"We need to educate people" The panacea of "education", "education" doesn't work. Only sterilization will.

[@OnlyHereOnRainyDays]

This is amazing.

[@MusicanoftheFuture]

Aaah!!! All those lovely parrots just imagine if we could understand their tweeting if I knew what they were saying I'd be like Dr Dolittle!!! Enyet they are amazing talkers!!!

[@BartCoppens]

Caging a parrot isn't cruel. Neglecting it is cruel. Parrots need lots of attention and time, and they can be very happy pets.

[@Trisha326]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video of the parrolets. I have 5 eggs in my nest box now from my parrolets . I hope they open soon i am getting worried

[@NomNoms033]

There are laws forbidding many wild parrots from being captured and bred from the wild. Many pet birds/parrots have been bred in captivity and have been domesticated for three generations or more. Instead of attacking loving bird owners, why don't you concentrate your efforts on poachers, deforestation, and breeders that just want to make money. I always buy from breeders who come to houses and make sure the environment (toys, cage, foods) are in place and great before they will sell.

[@testusername3000]

A dog has been domesticated yet you can have a pet wolf that is tamed. The same for parrots - they are not domesticated. They are wild animals that have gotten used to captivity. In their hearts though, they still maintain that wildness. I used to have pet parrots as a kid but I will never have another one. It's cruel to keep birds in cages. They have wings to fly out free.

[@folkard84]

Great video,It just goes to help intrench the whole nature vs nurture debate. It also shows the overwhelming evidence that as homo sapiens,we are nothing more than an apex species which re-interprets this fact to assume that we are descendant or cast from some type of divine entity. Your video is a great way to demonstrate the cascading behaviours of other non human mammals, with the only difference being the complexity of such traits- with us at the top and others below. cheers from Australia

[@huongviet9321]

Amazing 💙!

[@MsGirlygirl2011]

Amazing!