A study published in Scientific Reports has documented for the first time that blue-throated macaws (Ara glaucogularis) possess a cognitive ability that was previously considered exclusive to humans: learning by observing the actions of other individuals of their species.
This capacity, known as spontaneous social imitation, was recorded in captive specimens by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (Germany) and the Loro Parque Foundation (Tenerife).
The experiment: observation, imitation, and learning without reward
The team monitored 14 macaws in controlled conditions. A group previously trained had learned to perform five specific movements —such as lifting a leg or flapping their wings— in response to gestural signals.
The untrained macaws observed these interactions from an adjacent room, and were then exposed to the same signals by another researcher.
The results were surprising:
- They duplicated the precision in their responses compared to birds that did not witness the demonstrations
- Some spontaneously imitated, without waiting for orders or receiving rewards
Advanced social cognition: beyond the human-animal model
Macaws learn from both humans and other parrots, suggesting complex empathetic processes.
“What we observed is that the blue-throated macaw can learn by observing interactions between humans and birds, or between two birds,” explained Esha Haldar, lead author of the study.
This type of learning, which in humans appears around two years of age, is key for the transmission of cultural practices. The finding suggests that macaws could develop shared social conventions, promoting group cohesion and internal organization within the group.
Implications for conservation and rehabilitation
Social imitation could be a tool to prepare rescued birds before their release.
“In many cases, confiscated or fallen macaws need to learn to avoid predators or recognize safe foods,” pointed out Rafael Zamora, scientific director of Loro Parque Foundation.
This type of learning could facilitate reintroduction into natural habitats, especially in species that require pre-training to survive.
A critically endangered species: fewer than 400 individuals in the wild
IUCN classifies the blue-throated macaw as critically endangered, with a restricted distribution in Bolivia.
The study was conducted with a small group due to the low number of existing individuals. Blue-throated macaws exclusively inhabit the Llanos de Moxos in the Beni region (Bolivia), an ecosystem of floodable savannas, palm groves, and gallery forests, where they depend on the motacu palm for feeding and nesting.
Social learning in birds: an expanding scientific frontier
The study opens new lines of research on empathy, animal culture, and comparative cognition.
“These results are solid enough to demonstrate that these birds can imitate others,” stated Haldar.
The research suggests the existence of empathetic and indirect learning processes in birds, similar to those observed in primates and humans, redefining our understanding of animal intelligence.
