What Budgerigars Tell Us about Vocal Communication

Abstract

Budgerigars are small parrots and one of the most interesting behaviors in this species is vocal mimicry. This article briefly reviews studies of vocal behavior and the central nervous vocal control system of budgerigars. Other interesting characteristics of this species are behavioral contagion or imitation, and rhythmic synchronization to metronomic stimuli. All of these behaviors are involved in sensory-motor coordination and/or transforming sensory inputs to motor outputs. The neural and psychological substrates of these behaviors may have a link to one another and could give us insight into the biological basis and evolution of vocal learning and communication.