From two experts on wild parrot cognition, a close look at the
intelligence, social behavior, and conservation of these widely
threatened birds.
People form enduring emotional bonds with other animal species, such as
dogs, cats, and horses. For the most part, these are domesticated
animals, with one notable exception: many people form close and
supportive relationships with parrots, even though these amusing and
curious birds remain thoroughly wild creatures. What enables this unique
group of animals to form social bonds with people, and what does this
mean for their survival?
In Thinking like a Parrot, Alan B. Bond and Judy Diamond look beyond
much of the standard work on captive parrots to the mischievous,
inquisitive, and astonishingly vocal parrots of the wild. Focusing on
the psychology and ecology of wild parrots, Bond and Diamond document
their distinctive social behavior, sophisticated cognition, and
extraordinary vocal abilities. Also included are short vignettes--field
notes on the natural history and behavior of both rare and widely
distributed species, from the neotropical crimson-fronted parakeet to
New Zealand's flightless, ground-dwelling kākāpō. This composite
approach makes clear that the behavior of captive parrots is grounded in
the birds' wild ecology and evolution, revealing that parrots' ability
to bond with people is an evolutionary accident, a by-product of the
intense sociality and flexible behavior that characterize their lives.
Despite their adaptability and intelligence, however, nearly all large
parrot species are rare, threatened, or endangered. To successfully
manage and restore these wild populations, Bond and Diamond argue, we
must develop a fuller understanding of their biology and the complex set
of ecological and behavioral traits that has led to their vulnerability.
Spanning the global distribution of parrot species, Thinking like a
Parrot is rich with surprising insights into parrot intelligence,
flexibility, and--even in the face of threats--resilience.
