African gray parrots can reason like 5-year-old child

According to a new study published in the ‘Royal Society journal Biology Letters,’ African gray parrots can think like a 5-year-old kid, and are capable enough to detect hidden food using deduction and elimination skills.

Until now, these skills had been demonstrated in humans and the great apes only.

The research suggests that parrots are a part of the select group of creatures that can use logical reasoning skills.

7 gray parrots studied
To reach the findings, Austria researchers carried out experiments on seven African gray parrots, ages 7 to 25 years.

These birds were kept in the rescue centre in Austria.

“Two different but equally preferred food items were hidden in view of the birds under two opaque cups,” Sandra Mikolasch of Vienna University told the Daily Mail.

“Then an experimenter secretly removed one food type and showed it to the birds,” Mikolasch added.

The birds were then placed in front of the two cups to detect the hidden food.

“Like the apes—some gray parrots are able to infer the location of a hidden food reward.”—Researchers concluded

Parrots can use logical reasoning
Though most of the parrots were unable to choose the cup that contained the remaining food, “one of seven parrots significantly preferred the baited cup.”

Researchers stated, “Control conditions rule out that its choice was based on associative learning or the use of olfactory cues.”

In a similar experiment conducted in the past, only apes were able to use their logical reasoning skill in choosing the box that contained the “other food type.”

Researchers concluded, “Like the apes—some gray parrots are able to infer the location of a hidden food reward.”

Despite having brain the size of shelled walnut, these birds are very intelligent.