Thinking Like a Parrot: Perspectives from the Wild

People form enduring emotional bonds with animal species, including parrots, which remain wild creatures. Thinking Like a Parrot by Alan Bond and Judy Diamond explores the psychology and ecology of wild parrots, revealing their social behavior, cognition, and vocal abilities. Despite their adaptability and intelligence, nearly all large parrot species are rare, threatened, or endangered. Understanding their biology and ecological traits is essential for successful management and restoration.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 05 July 2019
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

People develop deep emotional connections with various animal species, including dogs, cats, and horses. These animals are often domesticated, with one notable exception: Many individuals form close and nurturing relationships with parrots, despite these fascinating and inquisitive birds remaining entirely wild creatures. What enables this unique group of wild animals to form social bonds with humans, and what implications does this have for their survival? In Thinking Like a Parrot, Alan Bond and Judy Diamond delve beyond the typical research on captive parrots to explore the mischievous, curious, and remarkably vocal parrots of the wild. Focusing on the psychology and ecology of wild parrots, Bond and Diamond document their distinctive social behavior, advanced cognition, and extraordinary vocal abilities. Additionally, the book includes short vignettes, providing field notes on the natural history and behavior of rare and widely distributed species, ranging from the neotropical crimson-fronted parakeet to New Zealand's flightless, ground-dwelling kakapo. This comprehensive approach demonstrates that the behavior of captive parrots is rooted in the birds' wild ecology and evolution, revealing that parrots' ability to bond with people is an evolutionary accident, a byproduct of the intense sociality and flexible behavior that characterize their lives.

Despite their adaptability and intelligence, nearly all large parrot species are rare, threatened, or endangered. To effectively manage and restore these wild populations, Bond and Diamond argue that we must gain a deeper understanding of their biology, encompassing the complex set of ecological and behavioral traits that have contributed to their vulnerability. Spanning the global distribution of parrot species, Thinking Like a Parrot offers surprising insights into the world of parrots.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 162 x 238 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226248783