Welcome to GATEWAY PARROT CLUB

Sunday, May 18, 2025 -  Phoenix Landing Event Recording --

Vocal Learning in Companion Parrots-The Many Parrots Project
 

We know that our parrots have a unique capability to speak our language. Oftentimes, it seems to be in perfect context, right? Parrots are one of the few groups of animals that can learn vocalizations throughout their lives. Why do they learn so well? What makes some birds better at vocal gymnastics than others? The Many Parrots Project is investigating these questions (and more) with the help of companion parrots and their humans. The project has data describing how over 1200 individual parrots mimic human speech and music. Join Dr. Lauryn Benedict, Karla Vilches Castaño, and Wynn Webster to hear what these data have revealed. The speakers will discuss patterns of vocal learning across a range of parrot species, including males and females of all ages. They will also talk about future projects asking questions about the accuracy of speech mimicry by different birds, and the large-scale evolutionary forces that might shape parrot repertoires. Finally, if you have a parrot that talks, whistles, or sings, they will tell you how you can contribute to the research!