Category: Birds
Also known as Bengalese finches, these domesticated cage birds are generally considered to be a domestic form of the striated finch (or white-rumped munia). They like to be close together and will all crowd into one nest if kept in housed in a group. They were most likely first cage-bred in China and then later this practice was brought to Japan. Both countries have been breeding society finches for hundreds of years and many varieties exist.
“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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