The Top 3 Smartest Pet Birds
Budgerigars, or budgies, are one of the most commonly kept pet bird in the world. Although most parrots will talk and mimic for attention, researchers have recently discovered that budgies have the ability to speak in context. The Budgie Research Group has recorded countless hours of budgie-speak. Victor, the first budgie to be recorded by the group, is said to have had a vocabulary of more than 800 words. Cheri Collins of Maine has a 1½-year-old budgie named Buddy. He is also one of more than 20 budgies that are currently part of the Budgie Research Group. “The reason he is part of this prestigious group is his ability to speak in context. This talent is not something that was taught to him; it is something that he has always had the ability to do, I only helped him to realize his potential.” Sarah Cordish is also a member of the Budgie Research Group. Her budgie, Herbert, can say hundreds of words and even makes up his own sentences. “Herbert is a gray budgie, but there is nothing gray about his personality. I once told Herbert that I would let him out of his cage at 4:00 p.m. At 2:30 p.m. I heard him say, ‘I can’t wait until four!’” According to Cordish, he also understands the concept of naming. “Last summer, he was given an aviary-bred hen to raise a family [with] if he wanted. He fell in love with the hen; and the feeling was mutual. I had not named the hen, so Herbert did. What name did he choose? He started calling softly to her, ‘Sarah, Sarah.’ What an extraordinary compliment.” Budgies are extremely bright and capable of complicated cognitive abilities. Like all pets, they need encouragement and patience in order to encourage their learning process.,1. The Intelligent African Grey Parrot
