Just wondering if these little guys are really THAT smart. My new buddy Chulo just came home last night, but I have noticed that whenever he is asked to step up and he doesn't want to, he shakes his head back and forth in the NOOOO head shake. he will usually do what you want, but if he is on top of his cage and you ask him to step up and offer your fingers, he will shake his head as described and walk away form you. It's really funny, but I wonder if he is really shaking his head to indicate that he doesn't want to comply, of if it is just something random. He is only a little over three months old.

Once you've lived with a Quaker for a while, you'll learn to never underestimate what goes on in those little heads. He might be shaking his head for "no," and he might just be shaking his head, but they really are very smart and understand a lot more than you might think.

I agree with Siobhan - they are VERY smart!

My favorite story to illustrate that is this one:

One night, Mark and I were watching TV, and at the time, the "bird room" was our living room! The birds were covered, it was about 9 PM and the TV volume was on low. We were watching some stupid show, and every now and again, we would laugh. Finally, from under the covered cage, we heard Nico laugh. We had never HEARD him laugh, so that made us laugh harder. So Nico laughed harder. So we laughed harder...this went back and forth a few times, until finally from under the covered cage comes this little voice, "You're FUNNY!" Oh my goodness, we both about wet our pants! Neither of us had ever taught Nico to say that - where did he learn it? We have no idea...but he certainly knew that laughter means something is "funny!"

All parrots have the intelligence of a 2 to 3 year old child so yes, they really are that smart!

Yeah, from what i've heard they can pick up many behaviours simply from observation,
and apply them in the right context in many circumstances.
They really are quite amazing little critters!

My favorite Herbie story...He loves to play peek a boo, and one day, when I asked, "Where's Herbie? " He said, "Here I am." very matter of fact. I have no idea where he came up with that, but it just goes to show...he's a smartie pants.