How Can My Parrot See Me Through Tinted Glass?

Question

Our back door has tinted glass, so no one outside can see in.

When I stand at a certain distance away from the door (when I am inside), no human can see me and it's obvious the dogs can't see me (if they hear me they look past me in the wrong direction).

However, when my rainbow lorikeet's cage is outside to get some sun, he can see me immediately. Every single time. And it's really obvious that he can see me. How is that possible?

Answer 1

The tinting allows certain light wavelengths to pass and blocks others. Birds' eyesight extends over a different set of light wavelengths from that of humans (and probably dogs). For example, birds can generally see light in the UV range. This makes fruits and even the plumage of other birds appear much different to them then it does to our eyes. There are likely wavelengths passing through the glass that allow your lory to form an image but that are out of human eyesight range.

Answer 2

Birds have group minds. You are part of your bird's flock, therefore part of his group mind. Flock members always know where other flock members are. That's how it works when you see a huge flock of sparrows all changing direction at once without crashing into each other.
My 4 lories will start yelling when my husband comes down the street. Our next door neighbors have the identical car (same color, year, everything) and they do not yell for that car. So it's not the car noise, or seeing the car out the window.
If I am outside and I walk down the driveway (can't be seen from their windows) they will yell as I pass their room on the other side of the wall.

Answer 3

My birds ALWAYS know when I'm returning home. It doesn't matter if I pull up in the car or if I went for a walk or bike ride. No matter how quiet I am, they always get very loud once I return. My neighbors have even commented that they're quiet all day, until I come home. Who knows, I guess birds just know!