Quaker Parrot Intelligence
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by Beth Eldridge They say that parrots can have the intelligence of a 5 year old child, but is that true for a small bird such as the Quaker Parrot? Either way, there is no doubt that Quakers frequently display a high level of intelligence. This excellent article is one of our visitors' favorites. |
Just how intelligent is a Quaker? This question is one I am frequently asked by people thinking of bringing a Quaker Parrot into their lives and homes.
The answer that I give is based on years of living with these incredible birds. I say: "They are smarter than you are."
How did I arrive at this conclusion? Well… let's see…
First and foremost, the Quaker Parrot uses human language, and very frequently uses it correctly and to the advantage of the bird. Let me use some examples to illustrate this point.
I brought home my first and most loved Quaker, Beeper 5 years ago. At 8 weeks old he was just weaned and a loving, interactive sweetheart. He was quickly established in a cage in our living room-dining room area and soon became a regular member of the family.
Several weeks after his arrival, he began to say "Hi!", and his vocabulary rapidly progressed after that….soon he was chattering babytalk and singing constantly. I assumed that he was just mimicking the sounds around him without understanding them at all. That assumption was soon proved groundless.
My first clue that my bird used language as we do was when I heard him sing a song that I had not taught him. He had taken his favourite saying "Good Bird" and set it to a very simple tune of his own making. I was amazed to hear him singing "Good Bird….Good Bird…You're a Good Bird…(followed by many kiss noises). But still, I felt that this could not really be a sign of intelligence, just excellent mimicry.
The next observation I made was that Beeper was able to identify his bath water as being "wet" and being a place for "sploshies". That didn't seem to be exceptionally intelligent to me, until Beeper and I surprised my husband coming out of the shower. Beeper looked at David, declared that he was "wet-wet-wet" and then inquired "Sploshies?" Obviously a bird who knew a wet person when he saw one!
The most conclusive event took place when Beeper was about a year old. Our excellent Avian Vet had just pronounced Beeper fat, and we had placed him on a diet. His disposition, not unlike a dieting human, suffered. In fact, he was just plain Grumpy!
His best friend was a sweet little Peach Faced Lovebird named Opal. The two of them often played on top of Beeper's cage, and had always been so good together that I never felt the need to supervise.
David and I were eating our dinner while the two birds played on the cage-top. Suddenly, the Lovebird let out a screech of a type we had never heard before, and we both spun around to see Opal cowering on the top of the cage, obviously hurt, while Beeper towered over him.
I jumped up and ran to the birds. A quick check showed no permanent damage to Opal, but I was furious with my Quaker. I screamed at him "What did you do to Opal! You hurt Opal!" Then, to my utter amazement, Beeper ran over to Opal, kissed him all over and said "I'm sorry!" "I'm sorry!" This was a phrase that he had NOT been taught! David and I looked at each other wide-eyed. David said "Maybe you'd better stop talking baby-talk to this bird."
There are many other incidents I could relate regarding Quaker intelligence, but I have come to take for granted that my Quakers understand simple concepts (and some not-so-simple ones), work at their relationships with their mates and with people, have a terrific sense of humour and play, and enjoy learning, composing and singing music. All these traits speak of an intelligence that is quick, social and verbal. Quaker Parrots are far from being only mimics. They are friends in the true sense of the word.
4 Comments on Quaker Parrot Intelligence »
April 26, 2007
Diana Mosier @ 7:53 pm:
I have just received a Quaker from my vet.It flew into his backyard, and he gaveit to me.I call it a "her" although I have no clue as to sex(any home ways to tell??) Her name is Bo (for bociferous).She doesn't talk, but when I talk to her,she turns her head and watches me.I have no idea how old she is,or anything.It took me a couple of days for her to trust me, but she gets on my arm with few exceptions now, and rarely trys to bite me.Also, she doesn't raise her 'hackles' at me when Icome to her cage, although she will with others in the house.We're working on that though.I guess I'd just like to talk to others out there that know more about these babies than I do(which is about everyone). :O)
January 23, 2008
Carol Kirsch @ 6:32 pm:
I have 3 little quakers that I love very dearly, they are my everthing everday they're my life. Communication is the key, I call them feathered children,little people in bird suits they are to smart to be birds at least my 3 are, they understand everthing and I do mean everthing you say to them and they do exactly what is being said to them When I say NO to something IT'S NO and when I say to STOP SOMETHING mine do just that at both of those things these little guys are extremely intelligent indeed they do know exactly what's being said to them and they react to it all becuase of their intelligence Mine are KIWI, QUAKEY and TIKI and Quakey can get a little jealious of Tiki at times an try to get at Tiki and stuff like that and he immediately will listen and will stop when I tell him to and I tell him NO don't do that, these little guys are just way to intelligent to be able to put into words just how smart and intelligent they really truly are it's all communication with them and they do understand at least my 3 little wonders(quakers) do, I always ask my 3 if they want this if they want that and they truly do let me know what it is exactly that they do want and I always give it to them and they are the greatest of the little parrots that are truly feathered children indeed.
May 19, 2008
Amanda @ 4:16 pm:
wow i been amaze with this stories! Great article! Love Amanda M.
May 20, 2008
kim @ 12:25 am:
Our oldest quaker (Critter) is like a dog. He follows us around, will travel from his cage into another room to crawl up our leg, calls my kids, takes showers with kids, bites the mean kids that my kids hang out with (but my kids are not allowed to hang out with them now…Critter is an incredible judge of character!) and above all, Critter is affectionate towards our other animals and family.
Critter also knows the words "Time Out!" extremely well. If he acts badly…screetching, biting "nice people", being rude…Critter gets 5 minutes time-out in the bathroom. This rule has been enforced since Critter was 3 months old. If you say "Time-Out!" now, Critter gets an attitude adjustment immediately!
I have a hard time saying all of the
wonderful qualities and surprises that Critter gives to our family because there are so many.
Critter recently lost his best-friend "Sweetheart", a peach-faced lovebird. It was heartbreaking the toll that it had on Critter; he was mourning, he was biting my daughter (whom he absolutely adores), and he was squawking constantly…We
could not give him enough attention.
It was very apparent that Critter needed avian attention, as well as ours.
Long story short, ended up getting two baby quakers. Critter is loving them being here, but not ready to be alone with them…you can see a wonderful change in Critter's morale though!
Quakers are incredible and intelligent…Please understand that when you bring a quaker home, it's for life…40 years plus…they look to you for a forever love and home. A quaker will give it's heart to you, please do not abuse that gift.
They require and deserve time (for hours, every day), love, attention, respect, flock-like devotion and discipline. Please make sure that you are willing to give that for the next 40 years.
Please note:
If you are pondering breeding of quakers, it is your moral responsibility to make sure that the people adopting are aware of how to hand-feed, all parties of the family are met and made aware of the responsibilities of what owning a bird requires. People (over-all) are unaware. Please make sure to educate and follow your gut instinct of the right thing to do.