Tool Using Parrot! ______________(youtube.com/cherylrampton)
January 5th, 2009 | Videos
Poncho, my smart 30 year old double yellow headed amazon parrot, uses one of his feathers to help scratch his head! He was not taught to do this, he figured it out on his own! He will also use other objects besides feathers for the same purpose, like pencils, straws, toys, etc.
To see more vids of Poncho check out this playlist: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=ED9696FE2A917229
Here is a link to a website about research being done with new caledonian crows and tool use: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~kgroup/tools/animal_tool.shtml
be sure to watch this amazing video of betty the crow taking a straight wire and bending it to make a hook to retrieve a bucket of food: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~kgroup/tools/movies/bending_trial7.mov
read the research on the webpage to fully appreciate the video!
Here are some definitions of tool use:
Jane Goodall defines tool use as "the use of an external object as a functional extension of mouth or beak, hand or claw, in the attainment of an immediate goal."
John Alcock defines tool use as "the manipulation of an inanimate object, not internally manufactured, with the effect of improving the animal's efficiency in altering the form or position of some separate object."
Ben Beck defines tool use as "the external employment of an unattached environmental object to alter more efficiently the form, position, or condition of another object, another organism, or the user itself when the user holds or carries the tool during or just prior to use and is responsible for the proper and effective orientation of the tool."
Thanks for watching!
Cheryl Rampton
Tags: amazon, animal, bird, cheryl, double, feather, funny, headed, intelligent, interesting, parrot, rampton, smart, tool, use, yellow,
Conway says:
that is sooo cute :) and very smartAugust 14th, 2008 at 04:13:02
Jannae says:
thats awesome!!!! like the part when it cleans the festher with its mouth....jajajaAugust 14th, 2008 at 04:36:01
Myles says:
ja ja aja aja muy intelijudo el muchacho mañoso XDAugust 14th, 2008 at 04:59:00
Onawa says:
i think it has flees!! lol sooooo cuteAugust 14th, 2008 at 05:21:59
Jeffrey says:
hi how lovely is ur parrot, can i know an information? is true that his size is 36 cm ? bocz poncho look much smaller .August 14th, 2008 at 05:44:58
Zacharie says:
Little human in this parrot? hahahahahahaAugust 14th, 2008 at 06:07:57
ADJOA says:
Very clever!August 14th, 2008 at 06:30:56
GIORSAL says:
Aww... How smart and cute=)August 14th, 2008 at 06:53:55
LINCOLN says:
That is one smart, and cute, bird!August 14th, 2008 at 07:16:54
Emunah says:
AHAHA omg sooo cute & smart! Looks like he/she's having a blastAugust 14th, 2008 at 07:39:53
SHAFIQ says:
thats one smart parrotAugust 14th, 2008 at 08:02:52
Deeana says:
SO cute!! Looks like it was having a good ole time scratching it's head hehe. Adorable.August 14th, 2008 at 08:25:51
Jennyann says:
well obviously it will then explode.August 14th, 2008 at 08:48:50
Idalie says:
what if it pokes itself in the ear?August 14th, 2008 at 09:11:49
Elmira says:
Very innovative! My grey uses his swing to scratch his head, he gets under it then reaches up and gives it a push then has an instant scratcher.August 14th, 2008 at 09:34:48
BIDZIIL says:
sooo smart! It's lovely!August 14th, 2008 at 09:57:47
Courtenay says:
Ours is doing that only with his footAugust 14th, 2008 at 10:20:46
OSZKAR says:
OMG soo cute how he is using the feather to fondle himself ^^August 14th, 2008 at 10:43:45
Jaelynn says:
adorableAugust 14th, 2008 at 11:06:44
Dermod says:
lmao so cute!August 14th, 2008 at 11:29:43
Risteard says:
she´s sooooo very cute =) love this animalAugust 14th, 2008 at 11:52:42
UBAID says:
He/she's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo smart and cute and funny!!!!!!!!!August 14th, 2008 at 12:15:41
Kim says:
He stabed himself, and then bited the feather!August 14th, 2008 at 12:38:40
ZULEIKA says:
Hehe :)August 14th, 2008 at 13:01:39
Rodd says:
LMAO LMAO LMAO LMAO! "gets mad at the feather"August 14th, 2008 at 13:24:38