Also commonly known as the Quaker Parakeet, these small parrots originated in South America but exist in self-sustaining feral population throughout the world, most likely a result of released or escaped pets. They are considered agricultural pests in many places and the possession and selling of these birds is highly regulated. Nonetheless, they are extremely intelligent, engaging pets that are able to develop large vocabularies of words and phrases.
“Bird Brain” should be taken as a compliment.
Calling someone a “bird brain” is an insult, but perhaps it should be reconsidered given how many birds display high intelligence and adaptability. For just a few examples, the kea from New Zealand can solve logical puzzles and work with other birds in order to acquire food, observations of Cormorants used by Chinese fishermen indicate that the birds can count up to seven, and many species of birds use simple tools such as sticks to help them acquire food or other items that catch their fancy! There is also a cockatoo named Snowball who can dance to the beat of Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself,” though whether this indicates intelligence or not may be a matter of debate or personal taste.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
