2006-11-09 08:31:58 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
Mimicry - they can mimic the calls of other creatures to get food and evade predators. After all, they aren't exactly good at camouflage.
2006-11-09 08:37:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's basically the same benefit that humans get from talking. If you can communicate with other animals of your species in a sophisticated way, your community survives longer.
Parrots that say words in human languages are adapting their natural vocalizations to their community, which in a captive parrot's case, is a community of humans. If a parrot hears a phrase repeated many times, it concludes that this combination of sounds is important to the person who is making it. If it wants to get some kind of attention from that person (positive or negative; parrots, like small children, will take either), it will make that combination of sounds/say the word.
It's also theorized that parrots just enjoy making noise sometimes, like many humans like to sing. Additionally, a large parrot (African Grey, Macaw, Cockatoo) has the intellect of a 2-5-year-old human. It has been scientifically proven that parrots can communicate meaningfully. (For more details, look up Alex the African Grey on the University of Arizona's website.) Complex communication and language skills are considered a sign of higher intelligence, which is a type of efficiency. Efficient species tend to survive longer and therefore evolve further if necessary, so unless some other factor intervenes, parrots will probably be able to communicate even better in the future.
2006-11-09 08:47:53 · answer #2 · answered by thepracticaldragon 1 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Harvard Biologist Mike Schindlinger did a lot of research on the "Natural Language" of Amazon Parrots.
He did a research paper that basically concluded that each Flock of Amazons had their own specific calls and "language" of communication...certain sounds meant certain things. Each Flock had a different Accent or Dialect or its own.
Schindlinger's website explains it this way:
"The power to imitate, for which parrots are famous, are used by the Yellow-Headed Amazon to learn its population's complex and varied vocabulary, and learn it accurately. By the time they are only two months out of the nest, they are practicing the complex vocal patterns they will use to socialize with others of their species. Different species of parrots - and sometimes even different groups of a single species - have their own "language," a set of sounds shared in common, which they use to communicate amongst themselves. They learn this "language" as they grow, and the "oral traditions" of a population are passed down for many years, generation to generation."
This ability to warn, to identify, to accurately communicate within their own flock is invaluable. And it puts them head and shoulders ahead of other species that have a cruder and less accurate method of communication.
Think of it this way: If you are trying to give someone directions, "That way!" isn't good enough to identify a great spot where there is ripe fruit across a 10 mile span in a jungle. Parrots can and do communicate using their own language to express exactly where "That Way!" is.
Since they can and do, the flock gets the benefit of the ripe fruit.
Parrots learn our language for the same purpose:
To either get something or to get away from something.
It 's just a difference in the language required in order to communicate.
Personally, I've always been impressed with the fact that Parrots have to, and do learn our language. We certainly haven't bothered to learn theirs.
This tends to beg the question as to who the smarter one in the relationship really is...
2006-11-09 09:43:52 · answer #3 · answered by Phoenix 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
thepracticaldragon pretty much nailed this one right out of the ball park. Good work!
The only thing I want too add is that a parrots ablility too mimick other speicies including humans is particularly useful too pirates and thier never ending war against the ninjas.
They load the parrots into specially designed cannons and fires these at particularly nasty infestations of ninjas.
*nods* It's a pirates v/s ninjas world out thier!
2006-11-09 08:55:46 · answer #4 · answered by refresherdownunder 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They can copy the calls of other animals and get food etc.
2006-11-12 00:09:28 · answer #5 · answered by claire c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It makes it so much more enjoyable to watch Pirate films... :)
2006-11-09 08:46:43 · answer #6 · answered by Hipira 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's just one more thing we amazing humans can do!
2006-11-09 08:35:20 · answer #7 · answered by Cammie 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
grassing people up
2006-11-09 08:43:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
None whatso ever!!!!
2006-11-13 08:31:51 · answer #9 · answered by james s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's handy if your lost
2006-11-09 16:40:01 · answer #10 · answered by barrie s 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋