Karmactive Staff
Scientists have discovered that critically endangered blue-throated macaws can learn new behaviors by watching other birds interact, marking the first evidence of third-party imitation in any non-human species. The groundbreaking study, conducted by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence in collaboration with the Loro Parque Fundación, reveals these rare parrots possess sophisticated learning abilities previously thought unique to humans.
“The findings are remarkable because they show for the first time that third-party imitation exists in a non-human animal,” explains Dr. Esha Haldar, the study’s lead author. “Human children start imitating from birth but develop the capacity for third-party imitation only from their second year of life.”
In the experiment, researchers tested two groups of blue-throated macaws. One group observed fellow macaws responding to specific hand signals from humans, performing actions like wing flapping, leg lifting, spinning, head shaking, and vocalizing. The other group had no opportunity to watch these interactions.
The results were clear – birds that observed others learned faster and more accurately than those without observation opportunities. This suggests these parrots can learn by watching interactions without directly participating, a complex social skill called third-party imitation.
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This discovery has significant implications for understanding parrot intelligence. “Parrots are ideal models for studying imitation,” says Auguste von Bayern, senior author of the study. “These highly social animals live in dynamic fission-fusion societies, where individuals frequently form new sub-groups. Third-party imitation may enhance integration of individuals into newly formed groups and foster social cohesion.”
Conservationists hope understanding their advanced social learning capabilities could help preservation efforts. Organizations like Asociación Armonía and the Loro Parque Fundación have established protected areas and nest box programs that have helped stabilize the population.
The study published recently in Scientific Reports included multiple trials to confirm these results. The behaviors tested were arbitrary, non-goal-oriented actions not normally seen in the wild, making the learning achievements even more impressive.
This research challenges assumptions about animal intelligence and suggests perspective-taking abilities may exist in species beyond humans and our closest relatives. For blue-throated macaws, these advanced social learning skills may have evolved to help them adapt to their complex social environments where group composition changes frequently.
