Parrots can tell live calls apart from pre-recorded videos

Image source, Northeastern University / University of Glasgow

Image caption, The parrots were given a bell to indicate when they wanted to use a tablet and call a friend

Scientists studying how parrots behave, believe they can tell live videos apart from pre-recorded clips.

The experts created Facebook profiles for nine parrots and let them catch up with each other via video calls.

They also showed the birds pre-recorded videos of their new feathery friends, but found the parrots far preferred calling - and could tell whether a video was live or not!

The scientists from the University of Glasgow said letting the birds catch up online could help them feel more chilled out.

They say this could pave the way for an "animal-centred internet" - where animals could interact with each other - with humans using technology.

The parrots were each given a tablet and trained to ring a bell when they wanted to use it.

Over the course of six months they could choose to call or watch pre-recorded videos of each other.

Image source, Busakorn Pongparnit

Image caption, While pet parrots are often kept on their own, they live in flocks and are social creatures in the wild

They spent 561 minutes on live calls compared with 142 minutes on pre-recorded video - suggesting they preferred a real-time chat!

"Their behaviour while interacting with another live bird often reflected behaviours they would engage in with other parrots in real life, which wasn't the case in the pre-recorded sessions," said Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas.

She said parrots in the wild were social creatures that live in flocks, meaning being kept on their own as pets could have a negative impact on them.

"The internet holds a great deal of potential for giving animals agency to interact with each other in new ways."