“Bird-brain” often implies someone is not smart for having a brain as small as a bird. However, birds actually have quite large brains relative to their bodies. In fact, many of them, like parrots and crows, are among the smartest animals on the planet. It can be rewarding to have birds as companions due to their ability to learn tricks, mimic speech, and engage in complex social interactions.
Factors That Suggest High Intelligence in Birds
- Counting Ability – The ability to count has been traditionally considered a sign of intelligence among birds, with some parrots even being able to understand the concept of zero.
- Tool Usage – Several birds have been seen using tools to interact with their surroundings. For instance, the African Gray Parrot has been seen using objects in its environment to scratch its head.
- Social Interaction – Birds engage in complex interactions, not only with their species but also with other birds and even humans. For example, a study showed that pet parrots taught to video call would develop strong bonds with one another.
- Observational Learning – Some birds can pick up behaviors from their environment by observing other trained birds or humans.
- Associative Learning – There are birds that associate visual or auditory signals with rewards, making it easier to teach tricks and commands.
- Problem Recognition and Solving – Some birds, like macaws, can successfully identify and solve problems. For instance, a Hyacinth Macaw can learn to pull a rope to reach a bowl attached to the end.
List of the Smartest Pet Birds
| Name | Displays of Intelligence |
|---|---|
| African Gray Parrot | Can learn to identify objects and use words in context, like Alex, who could say about 100 words in context, identify colors, and show frustration |
| Macaws | Can tell left and right apart, displays object permanence, and can use tools |
| Cockatoos | Can identify musical beats, like Snowball who has been able to sway to rhythmic beats |
| Amazon Parrots | Can learn and mimic human speech to perfection |
| Canaries | Can pick up songs from listening to recordings |
| Finches | Among pet finches, zebra finches can learn to have a rudimentary sense of grammar |
| Conures | Can learn tricks and commands quickly |
| Budgies | Can memorize a vast number of words and have the intelligence of a human infant |
It is essential to mention that in order to truly display its intelligence, a bird needs the right environment, training, and a lot of patience.
