New research reveals that parrots control their vocalizations using a brain system more similar to humans than to other birds, setting them apart from songbirds.

How Parrots and Songbirds Differ in Vocal Control

A study by New York University scientists examined the brain activity of zebra finches (songbirds) and budgerigars (parrots) while they vocalized. Zebra finches rely on a time-based neural pattern, akin to a player piano, where neurons fire in a sequence corresponding to different moments in a song.

In contrast, parrots activate neural groups based on sound characteristics rather than timing. This means that the same neurons fire whenever a specific type of sound is produced, much like how human speech production is structured.

Closer to Humans Than Expected

The study found that budgerigars have a specialized neural system that organizes vocal output similarly to how the human brain forms speech. This structure allows for greater flexibility in vocalization, potentially explaining their ability to mimic human speech so effectively.

While this discovery doesn’t suggest parrots possess language, it raises new questions about how their vocal abilities evolved and how closely they parallel human speech mechanisms. Scientists are now investigating what upstream brain processes drive this unique system in parrots.