Smart Parrot Gets Smarter

Hiromitsu Miyata and other researchers studied the Kea parrot to investigate aspects of its intelligence. The Kea parrot, which is known as the “clown of the mountains” is known for its playfulness, curiosity and boldness in finding food and exploring its environs.

Miyata and his colleagues created several tests involving boxes that contained locked-up fruit. The Kea were able to open up the first round of boxes, so the tests were made more difficult. The harder test used bolts that had to be positioned in a way so that they did not block each other, for the box to be opened. The Kea figured out those challenges as well. But in the more difficult tests, it was observed they were able to achieve success faster when they had time to study the obstacle before they were allowed to touch it.

Their results showed the Kea use exploration in solving puzzles to get food, but they also can observe a situation and plan their actions, without physically interacting with the puzzle. Reportedly it was thought Kea solved problems through trial-and-error, but the new research suggests they can also strategize.

Kea also learn through emulating their peers and by cooperating with each other. In fact there are many reports of Kea intelligence, mostly on their unrelenting inquisitiveness when it comes to finding a meal. Kea have been described pulling rubber off of windshield wipers, using their beaks to cut through spare tire covers, breaking into garbage containers, stealing food from hikers and campers and even eating sheep. Last year it was reported a Kea stole a tourist’s passport. They are considered to be a highly neophilic species.

The alpine parrots are considered vulnerable due to hunting, which has reduced their population considerably. They are one of ten endemic New Zealand parrots.

Image Credit: gambier20

Related:
7 Animals Smarter Than Humans

Read more: Nature & Wildlife, Pets

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Chinmayee J.

2:49AM PDT on Sep 14, 2010

I thought parrots ate seeds, why are they eating sheep?? Anyway, animals have stopped surprising me - more and more animal-friendly studies show that a huge variety of animals are intelligent (in different ways), empathic (even towards other species), and very intuitive. They rock!

send a green star

DancingDove S.

9:45AM PDT on Aug 29, 2010

Brilliant creatures. Too bad humans feel the need to cage and "study" them... Let it be...

Bonna M.

9:31AM PDT on Aug 27, 2010

Incredible!!!

Caro M.

5:38AM PDT on Aug 26, 2010

Amazing!

Borg D.

12:06PM PDT on Aug 25, 2010

Love It.Thank You !!

Deborah W.

2:31AM PDT on Aug 25, 2010

Well, they are amazing. I'm glad I don't have any of them visiting my home!

Monica D.

8:53PM PDT on Aug 24, 2010

Thank you for this article. These birds are very smart.

pj d.

3:53PM PDT on Aug 23, 2010

Looks like a parrot, sounds like a hawk - and too smart!!

Kris B.

9:11PM PDT on Aug 22, 2010

This was interesting and fun to watch.

This just makes you realize that a bird should not be in a cage especially a parrot. They all are very smart and they need a lot of attention with toys and puzzles to solve.

Anne F.

11:52AM PDT on Aug 22, 2010

Many critters are vastly underestimated, good example.