Parrots are social birds. In the wild they live in big flocks, but many pet parrots live alone with their owners. In 2023, researchers from Northeastern University, the University of Glasgow and MIT tried something new: they taught 18 pet parrots to video call each other. The birds learned to ring a bell to ask for a call, and then tap a photo of the parrot they wanted to talk to on a tablet. Over three months, the parrots chose who to call, and they had favourites. The parrots who made the most calls also received the most. On the calls, they sang, preened, played and showed off toys. Some owners said their birds learned new things from their video friends, including new sounds, new ways of finding food, and in one case, flying. #Parrots #Birds #AnimalFacts