Parrots are famous for their ability to imitate human speech, but do they use names the same way we do? New research suggests the answer may be yes.
Rather than traveling to tropical habitats to record parrots in the wild, as researchers have done in previous studies, Laurin Benedict, a biology professor at the University of Northern Colorado, took a different approach. She focused on parrots that coexist with humans, birds that regularly hear and repeat words that include people’s names.
Working with longtime collaborator Christine Darling of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and researchers in Austria, Benedict examined audio recordings of more than 880 captive parrots. The researchers found many examples of birds using names in a way similar to how humans identify specific individuals. They also uncovered some surprising patterns in how parrots use these names.
The research results were published in a magazine pro swan.
Why names are important in social communication
For humans, names help organize and navigate complex social relationships. Many animals also make sounds for similar purposes, helping them recognize or call out to specific individuals.
Researchers have been studying this type of vocal signal in animals for many years. But Dahlin cautioned against making direct comparisons to human naming systems.
“Because animal signals are often very different, and because the full intent behind the signals is not understood, we cannot conclude that they are similar to human names.”
Study of hundreds of captive parrots
To explore this question, the researchers turned to data from the ManyParrots project, a collaborative network that studies learning, cognition, and vocal behavior in parrots through surveys and audio recordings.
The team analyzed survey information from more than 889 parrots. In some cases, study participants provided additional details to help researchers better understand the context in which the birds were using the names.
Almost half of the participants submitted examples of parrots saying their names. Of the 413 recordings that included the use of names, in 88 the parrots appeared to use names as labels for specific people or animals.
The researchers also found strong evidence that some parrots do not simply apply names to broader groups such as “humans.” Instead, they seemed to associate specific names with specific individuals.
More than simple imitation
Recordings revealed that parrots don’t always use names like humans do.
For example, some birds repeat their name to get attention. This suggests that parrots may adapt and use names for different social purposes depending on the situation.
Darling said the findings show that parrots have both the cognitive and vocal skills needed to use names in a variety of ways. These uses may also include communicating directly with people or referring to people who are no longer present.
At the same time, the results highlight how much remains unknown. Differences between species, and even between individual birds within the same species, raise important questions about when, how, and why animals use vocal signals to identify and call other individuals by name.
This research was partially funded by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) project ANIML (LS23-014) to MH. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
