1st Edition

Avian Cognition Exploring the Intelligence, Behavior, and Individuality of Birds

By Debra S. Herrmann Copyright 2015
    536 Pages 201 Color Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Unlike any other book, Avian Cognition thoroughly examines avian intelligence, behavior, and individuality. Preferences, choices, motivation, and habits of species, flocks, and individual birds are discussed and compared. This book investigates who birds are and why they do what they do. Daily, seasonal, and play activities, creativity, reasoning abilities, problem-solving skills, social interaction, life stages, and communication patterns are described, and a distinction is made between vocalizations that are learned and those that are inherited. The behavior and intelligence of both wild and pet birds is compared, and unlike other books, entire chapters are devoted to a single species.

    What is Intelligence Anyway?
    Definitions, Models, and Theories
    Learning
    Thought
    Emotion
    Consciousness
    Behavior
    Language, Culture, and Technology
    Adaptation, Instinct, and Intuition

    Heron
    Background
    Green Heron
    Great Blue Heron
    Black-crowned Night Heron
    Yellow-crowned Night Heron
    Discussion

    Canada Geese
    Background
    Characteristics
    Family Life and Daily Activities
    Seasonal Behaviors
    Individual Behaviors
    Discussion

    Mallard Duck
    Background
    Characteristics
    Family Life and Daily Activities
    Seasonal Behaviors
    Individual Behaviors
    Comparison of Mallard Duck and Canada Geese Behavior
    Discussion

    Ruby-throated Hummingbird
    Background
    Characteristics
    Family Life
    Individual Behaviors
    Discussion

    Cardinal
    Background
    Characteristics
    Family Life
    Individual Behaviors
    Discussion

    Budgerigar
    Background
    Characteristics
    Uzziel
    Precious
    Slate, Lilac, Sunflower, and Sky
    Other Interesting, Surprising, and Amusing Behaviors
    Discussion

    Zebra Finches
    Background
    Characteristics
    Adult Zebra Finch Behaviors
    Development and Behavior of Zebra Finch Nestlings (0-3 months)
    Discussion

    Meyer’s Parrot and Red-Bellied Parrot
    Background
    Characteristics
    Squeaky
    Sydney
    Discussion

    Indian Ringneck Parakeet
    Background
    Characteristics
    Maku
    Snapdragon
    Bluebell
    Dusty
    Discussion

    Mitred Conure
    Background
    Characteristics
    Rudy
    Buster
    Discussion

    Avian Communication Patterns
    Background
    Mallard Duck Ice Medley, Disk 1 Track 1
    Canada Geese Winter Song, Disk 1 Track 2
    Canada Goslings, Disk 1 Track 3
    Zebra Finch Phonics, Disk 1, Track 4
    Indian Ringneck Parakeet Roundtable, Disk 2 Track 1
    Meyer’s Parrot Beeps and Whistles, Disk 2 Track 2
    Mitred Conure Chortling, Disk 2 Track 3
    Budgerigar Morning Chorus, Disk 2 Track 4

    Epilogue

    Appendices
    Glossary
    Bibliography
    Observation Locations and Populations
    Budgerigars and Children: A Tribute to Perky

    External factors to consider when giving a bird a medical exam 

    Biography

    Debra Herrmann is a Principal Research Scientist with the Biological Computing Initiative. She leads interdisciplinary research that examines the parallels between avian intelligence, behavior, learning, reasoning, problem solving, and communication skills and computer intelligence, artificial intelligence, neural nets, computer heuristics, and other biological computing models found in nature.

    Debra has been active in the federal and academic research communities in the Washington, D.C. area for the past 30 years. She has competed for and received research funding ranging from $50K to $4M for various projects, and because of her expertise, Debra has been asked to sit on panels evaluating research proposals submitted to the U.S. government for funding.

    Debra led or participated in all the observational field studies reported in this book. She has participated in birding activities locally and on three continents (so far) over a span of 30 years. Debra teaches graduate, undergraduate, and professional short courses. She is a frequent guest speaker at annual conferences, monthly educational seminars, and informal committee meetings hosted by scholarly organizations and general membership societies. Avian Cognition is her fifth book. Her hope is that Avian Cognition will serve as a catalyst for increased public understanding of avian intelligence and behavior, better treatment of wild and pet birds worldwide, and more research in this area.

    "This is an engaging, well-written description of Herrmann’s observations and interpretation of the behavior of individual birds, both wild and companion...[and] offers insightful descriptions of behavior by an experienced, sensitive observer. This book is easy to read and copiously illustrated. It is a good gift for lovers of wild or companion birds."
    M. Gochfeld, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in CHOICE, October 2016 Vol. 54 No. 2

     

    "More than 30 individual birds and 15 species from different countries around the world were studied over a 30 year period, resulting in an amazing amount of information. Both psittacines and non-psittacines are included within this valuable research work, which makes this book appealing to all those interested in ornithological issues whether psittacines or not.…

    Avian Cognition examines all aspects of a bird’s life in an effort to help understand intelligence, behaviour and individuality. Therefore, everything about an individual bird or bird species is presented in the same chapter.…

    The final chapter discusses avian communication patterns providing background information for the two audio CDs that come with the book.…The numerous colour photographs (over 150) illustrate, through short range shots, subtle nuances of behaviour….

    If you are serious in learning about the intelligence, behaviour and individuality of birds, then this is an essential read. It will also help to reinforce the relationship you have with your own birds, whether companion or breeding.

    This hardback…contains a vast amount of information, which bird keepers will find invaluable."

    John Catchpole, Parrots Magazine, November 2016