If you’re wondering why parrots imitate sounds they hear, it’s because they’re social creatures. They feel a need to be able to interact and fit in with those around them. When kept as pets, these birds see their human owners as their family and want to communicate with them.
Since a human owner [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]usually can’t learn a bird’s “language,” the bird instead tries to learn the language of its owner. These birds are often quite intelligent and mimicry becomes a way for them to get attention and interact with their owners.
Parrots’ mimicry is impressive. Did you know that parrots don’t have vocal cords like humans? It’s true! Instead of pushing air over vocal cords to create sound, parrots mimic sounds by using the muscles in their throat to direct airflow over the trachea (or windpipe) in an organ called the syrinx. They make different sounds by changing the depth and shape of the trachea.
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