We finally know how parrots 'talk'

Parrots are so adept at mimicking people that the avian moniker has become synonymous with repetition. Yet for as long as we've known about the birds' incredible ability for impressions, how they manage such complex and flexible vocalizations has been a mystery. A new study offers a piece of the puzzle by peeking into the parakeet brain, and finds remarkable similarities to the human neural region that controls speech. The research, published March 19 in the journal Nature, suggests parrots (and specifically parakeets) could be a model for studying human speech, helping scientists to better understand and treat speech disorders. It also adds to the growing stack of scientific findings that demonstrate "bird-brained" isn't much of an insult after all.