The great thing about most of your pets is that they each have a unique sound: cats meow, dogs bark, and birds sing. But parrots – parrots are a whole different story. You’ve heard of them mimicking humans, but have you heard of them mimicking other animals?
This parrot threw on quite a show when he decided to mimic something other than a plain-old human. Surrounded by three cuddly kittens, this bird was inspired to take things in an entirely different direction. He did something the kitties never could have expected: he meowed like a cat!
The kittens sat together in an arc shape, each facing the strange white parrot that was penetrating their midst. As they looked with curiosity at the feathery creature, he set them up for a shock. With all three kittens extending their noses toward the bird, he let out a meow! The other animals were completely confused.
The parrot bobbed his head back and forth, letting out mew after mew. Suddenly, when one cat took a step forward, the parrot changed his tune. He showed his versatility by letting out a snakelike hiss, which instantly scared off the kitten. She drew her head back as the bird leaned forward. After a moment of tension, the parrot withdrew.
He began to walk around, still letting out a long list of meows. The bird boldly approached another kitten, again sticking his beak in the cat’s face. The kitten retreated and left the parrot to his strange behavior.
This bird certainly demonstrated a magnificent vocal range. Scientists have linked parrot’s extraordinary mimicking abilities with their unique brain structures. According to IFL Science, research on patterns of gene expression “led to the identification of key structural differences between parrots and the other vocal learning bird groups. All of these birds possess defined vocal learning centers, called cores, but parrots have another structure surrounding this region. This outer area, or shell, also seems to play a role in the vocal learning process.”
So the reason parrots are able to imitate so many animals is because of a special part of their brain. It is amazing that something set inside such a tiny skull can be so intricate.
Parrots have been amazing humans for many years with their incredible mimicking abilities, and now the cats are in on the fun. This bird definitely wowed his kitten friends with his fascinating ability. Now, when you see a parrot, you will know why it can make so many amazing sounds.
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