Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2019 July 2

= July 2 =

Anyone else's parrot ever do this?
My pet parrot sits at the window, watching the world go by most days.

Whenever she sees a hawk, or a crow/magpie, or a big seagull flying over, she starts squawking and getting agitated, while looking back and forth between me and the other bird, as though to say "follow my eyes".

Is she watching my back for me? Showing me that there's a scary bird that might come after me? Or maybe she'd like me to go out and scare it away? Am I reading that right? Pretty cool. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.200.133.209 (talk) 09:53, 2 July 2019 (UTC)


 * Parrot Parrot Parrot Companion parrot etc. Gem fr (talk) 10:58, 2 July 2019 (UTC)


 * I'd say it's instinct at work. They instinctively warn others when a potential threat is identified, which involves calling and watching members of their flock, to ensure that they are reacting accordingly. Presumably a lack of reaction would get them to make even more noise, while if every bird in the flock takes cover, they would go silent and take cover, too. (Although a smaller bird that they can take on, and is only a threat to eggs/chicks, would call for a swarm attack.) SinisterLefty (talk) 11:16, 2 July 2019 (UTC)


 * This is recognised behaviour among Australian parrots, to the extent that it became a part of Australian English. See the description of the role of the Cockatoo at a game of Two-up as the person who warned players of the game of police raids in the days when it was illegal. HiLo48 (talk) 11:27, 2 July 2019 (UTC)


 * My parrot is a goffin, so quite closely related to Australian parrots. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.200.133.209 (talk) 19:44, 2 July 2019 (UTC)