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Are parrots more like humans than we thought?
The findings could shed light on human speech disorders and how language is generated in the brain.
The "vocal keyboard" used in Budgerigar's language centres is surprisingly human-like, according to a new study.
Parrots have always been known for their knack for mimicry, but new research suggests they may have more in common with humans than we ever imagined. A study published in Nature on 19 March has found that budgerigars—small, sociable parrots—possess brain structures for speech production remarkably similar to our own.
“This is really the first non-human animal in which that has been shown,” says Michael Long, a neuroscientist at NYU Langone Health, as quoted by ScienceNews. The findings, the report says, could shed light on human speech disorders and how language is generated in the brain.
The Secret Behind Budgie Babble
Unlike other animals that simply imitate sounds, budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) actively generate vocalisations using a brain system that mirrors human speech processing. Long and his colleague Zetian Yang examined the activity of neurons in the birds’ anterior arcopallium—a region associated with vocal learning.
Their discovery? These neurons function like a “vocal keyboard,” allowing budgies to produce a variety of sounds, including consonants, vowels, and pitch variations. “A budgie is able to generate arbitrary sounds in its universe by just playing this vocal keyboard,” explains Long.
An Evolutionary Coincidence?
The similarities between human and parrot speech mechanisms may be a striking case of convergent evolution—where unrelated species develop the same solution to a problem. “These parrots have developed a kind of similar mechanism,” says Long, suggesting that the ability to create complex vocal patterns might not be unique to humans after all.
But what exactly are these budgies talking about? That’s the next mystery scientists hope to crack. Using advanced machine learning, Long’s team is now working to decode budgerigar communication.
“Maybe we can start to re-examine the notions of human exceptionalism,” he reflects. If parrots share not only brain structures but elements of language itself, our understanding of intelligence and communication in the animal world may need a serious rethink.
