Bird Intelligence and Communication

Research has revealed that certain bird species, particularly parrots, display levels of intelligence comparable to that of young children. For instance, a notable study identified that gray parrots can perform tasks akin to those given to children in developmental psychology, such as conservation and probability tasks. These findings highlight that birds can understand concepts like quantity and even engage in simple forms of reasoning, challenging traditional assumptions about avian cognition. Dr. Irene Pepperberg's work with her parrot Alex demonstrated that these birds could communicate using over 150 labels, showcasing their complex understanding of language.