Vocal learning in the Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus): effects of species identity and number of trainers.
Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) learn referential English labels when they view and interact with 2 humans who model vocal labeling and who demonstrate referentiality and functionality of a label (I.M. Pepperberg, 1990a). To test if both trainers are necessary, the authors contrasted 2-trainer modeling with training by 1 human who presented targeted labels to a bird in concert with appropriate items, who asked questions, and who would reward attempts at the label with the item. The bird was also tutored by either 1 or 2 interactive humans in conjunction with a conspecific who already used referential labels. Referential labels were learned from multiple live tutors but not a single trainer. Presence of a conspecific enhanced learning compared with single-trainer sessions but did not affect acquisition in 2-human sessions. Specific aspects of paired tutoring seem critical for acquiring referential vocal labels.
Pepperberg
I M
IM
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, USA. impepper@media.mit.edu
Sandefer
R M
RM
Noel
D A
DA
Ellsworth
C P
CP
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010311:Parrots; D012931:Social Environment; D013045:Species Specificity; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014828:Vocalization, Animal