Interspecies Communication with Grey Parrots: A Tool for Examining Cognitive Processing

Abstract

For over 35 years, I have examined Grey parrot cognition via a modeling technique, whereby birds are trained to use elements of English speech referentially, so they can be questioned vocally, much like young children. The oldest bird, Alex, labeled >50 objects, seven colors, five shapes, quantities to eight, three categories (color, shape, material) and used “no,” “come here,” “wanna go X,” and “want Y” (X, Y being appropriate location or item labels) intentionally. He combined labels to identify, request, comment on, or refuse >150 items and to alter his environment. He understood concepts of category, relative size, quantity, presence or absence of similarity/difference in attributes, showed label comprehension and a zero-like concept; he demonstrated some understanding of phonological awareness and a numerical competence more like that of young children than other nonhumans. He could be queried about optical illusions in ways directly comparable to humans. Younger birds are acquiring similar competence.