Parrot Mimics Owner's Voice To Boss Around Her Other Pets 21
Barney, an African Grey Parrot, has learned to use his owner's voice to boss around her other pets. The bird, 10, squawks out orders like "come here" and even offers praise to his favorites such as "good dog." Margaret Sullivan, 65, says the bird's favorite game is calling out to a cat named Shadow. He then praises him when he does as he is told and sits on top of Barney's cage. Her husband says, "It's uncanny. He mimics her perfectly and when the dogs come over to the cage as if they are following his orders. The animals all think he's Margaret when he speaks. He loves ordering them around and commanding them — it's very surprising. He's not frightened or scared of them at all." Sounds like the beginning of a bad horror movie to me. Mimic Master; The last scream you hear will be your own.
Common enough story (Score:1, Interesting)
Parrots, especially the african gray parrots (like the one shown in the picture) are notorious for doing this kind of thing. Another popular activity is for the bird to get the dogs barking, and then give the dogs a good cussing out for barking, using their owner's voice.
Mine just imitates kissing sounds.
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Parrots, especially the african gray parrots (like the one shown in the picture) are notorious for doing this kind of thing
I knew of an African Grey that would say things like "Chaz, don't smoke!" or "Chaz, don't hit your brother!". It annoyed Chaz as much as it made his mother's life easier.
I've heard that in Australia, there are wild parrots that do the Nokia sound.
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Philadelphia? I'm surprised that they are not doing gunshots. Or does that not impress the chicks?
The Superb Lyrebird (Score:2)
Not sure if it's the parrots that do that in Australia; you may possibly be referring to the Superb Lyrebird [wikipedia.org], "Nature's Tape Recorder". The Lyrebird has an extraordinarily complex vocal organ, and is perhaps the most amazing mimic in nature. The males incorporate natural and artificial sounds into their call during courtship, including the songs of other birds and sounds as diverse as loggers' chainsaws, the click of a motor-driv
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That might be the bird, thanks.
wow (Score:2)
An anecdotal example A Lyrebird's tale During the early 1930s, a male lyrebird, called "James", formed a close bond of friendship with a human being, Mrs. Wilkinson, after she had been offering food to him over a period of time. James would perform his courtship dance for her on one of his mounds which he had constructed in her backyard -- and he would also put on his display for a wider audience, but only when Mrs. Wilkinson was one of those present. On one such occasion, James' performance lasted for forty-three minutes, and included steps to a courtship dance accompanied by his own tune -- and also included imitating perfectly the calls of an Australian Magpie, and a young magpie being fed by a parent-bird, a Eastern Whipbird, a Bellbird, a complete laughing-song of a Kookaburra, two Kookaburras laughing in unison, a Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo, a Gang-gang Cockatoo, an Eastern Rosella, a Pied Butcherbird, a Wattle-bird, a Grey Shrike-thrush, a Thornbill, a White-browed Scrubwren, a Striated Pardalote, a Starling, a Yellow Robin, a Golden Whistler, a flock of parrots whistling in flight, the Crimson Rosella, several other birds whose notes his audience were not able to identify, and the song of honey-eaters (tiny birds with tiny voices), that gather in numbers and "cheep" and twitter in a multitudinous sweet whispering. In order to mimic the honeyeaters' singing faithfully, James was obliged to subdue his powerful voice to the faintest pianissimo, but he contrived, nevertheless, to make each individual note of the soft chorus audibly distinct. Also included in James' performance was his perfect mimicry of the sounds made by a rock-crusher at work, a hydraulic ram, and the tooting of motor-horns. [9]
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Re:Common enough story (Score:5, Insightful)
And an accute sense of not-giving-a-damn-what-their-owner-says.
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heh. Isn't that true.
I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the cat enjoys sitting on top of the bird's cage so much that its one of the few orders he's willing to pay attention to. As thought he cat is thinking something like "you know, that's a pretty good idea", rather then "yes master".
i know mine will sit and stare at our hermit crab for hours, without anyone ever ordering him to do so. If I had a bird, I'm sure the cats would hand around the cage even longer.
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i know mine will sit and stare at our hermit crab for hours, without anyone ever ordering him to do so.
that's because you dont kiss him enough.
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Depends on the cat. Some do come when they are called.
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My cat is actually extremely responsive and communicative. I've lived with cats my whole life, and this one is remarkable. He comes when called and will go where told. He has different meows for what he wants, and communicates with his paws and tail as well. He's very talkative and when he's had a big day he tells me all about it. He's a Maine Coon and the best cat ever.
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And if I may add: Lovely plumage!
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Stop bragging about your parrot mimicking all the action you're getting.
*yawn* (Score:2)
Seen this many a time with larger parrots. Sure its cute, but does it qualify to even be on the idle page?
hell (Score:2)