Study suggests parrots may use names for specific individuals
7 reported2 unconfirmed
A new study published in PLOS ONE suggests that parrots may use names in ways similar to humans, based on analysis of recordings from captive birds. Researchers from the University of Northern Colorado, the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and institutions in Austria examined vocal recordings from more than 880 captive parrots. The team found many examples of birds using names in ways that appeared to identify specific people, animals, or companions. Some parrots appeared to refer to someone not present, while others used names creatively, such as saying their own name to attract attention. The study relied on data from the ManyParrots project, a collaborative network studying parrot learning, cognition, and vocal behavior. Researcher Christine Dahlin cautioned against drawing direct comparisons to human naming systems, noting that animal signals are often different and that the full intent behind the signals is not understood. The findings indicate parrots possess cognitive and vocal skills to use names in various social contexts, but differences between species and individual birds raise further questions.
What’s reported
The study analyzed survey information from more than 889 parrots and vocal recordings from more than 880 captive parrots.
Nearly half of survey participants submitted examples of parrots saying names.
Among 413 recordings that included name use, 88 appeared to show parrots using names as labels for particular people or animals.
Some parrots repeatedly said their own names as a way of attracting attention.
The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Researchers included Lauryn Benedict (University of Northern Colorado), Christine Dahlin (University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown), and collaborators from Austria.
The work was funded in part by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) project ANIML.
Open questions
The full intent behind the parrots' vocal signals remains unknown.
Differences between species and individual birds raise questions about when, how, and why animals use vocal signals to identify or refer to other individuals by name.
Key figures
Lauryn Benedict, biology professor at the University of Northern Colorado
Christine Dahlin, researcher at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Researchers from Austria (not individually named in the article)
Sources: ScienceDaily
