the most asked question ever

[birdgirl]

are Congos smarter then Timnehs?? I've heard this asked on many boards and it has never been answered (that I know of) I don't think they are but would like to know what every one else thinks.

[Jenny]

I really don't think so, and I think that everybody who says they are has absolutely no proof whatsoever! It's a possibility, but I doubt it. I think it's partly because there's more people who have congos than timnehs and they're flashier appearance-wise and bigger, which possibly makes some people think they're smarter too. There's also been Alex who's a congo, but no timneh. From the stories on africannature and other websites about cags and tags, it seems pretty much equal, you just hear more stories about congos.

[birdygirl]

you hear more about congo's tha timneh's are because more people have congo's than timneh's. Although on the other message board I go to there are two timenehs and bot are extremly smart. And don't forget that other species of birds can be smart as well. My pionus is smarter than any grey I've ever met. She speaks in sentances, speaks cognatively and answers questions. We asked her if she wanted to go to the vet and she looked at us with a look that said we were crazy and said"NO!" But I haven't met many greys and I certainly have never met Alex.

[birdgirl]

your bird sounds very smart :D
I really think it would be cool to meet Alex some day and see first hand what he can do.

[Jenny]

Yeah,I know that many other parros (if not all) are extremely smart too, some just can't "vocalize" it as well so people dont' consider them to be smart! Everybody (well, nearly) has heard of african greys and about their talking ability- even one of my music teachers who thought my conure was a budgie started talking about african greys- and he knows nothign else about birds at all. Your pionus sounds very cute! Even though my birds don't really talk, I can definitely tell that they're smart!!!

[birdygirl]

I think that some species of birds are over looked due to their lack of talking ability or talking ability that is less than others. Pionus have a general garbled speaking voice and Sophie is no exception. but she can speak over twenty words and phrases andis constantly picking new ones up.

[birdgirl]

I always tell people if they are buying a bird because parrots talk they shouldn't be getting a bird at all.

[birdygirl]

I hope you don't think that I was attacking you with my post. I know you are getting a grey for all the right reasons. I just wanted to express my opinion on greys not being the only smart birds. I'm sorry if it seemed that way. I'm very glad that you tell people if they want a talking bird just because it talks they shouldn't get a bird.

[Jenny]

Yeah, I tell people that too... though I don't think that it usually makes much of a difference ...:(

[birdgirl]

no I didn't think you were attacking although I never know when some one is:rolleyes: when I tell people they shouldn't get a parrot because they talk most of the time they just don't get a bird(good thing)

[birdygirl]

well I didn't attack you I just thought you might think so. Sorry

[birdgirl]

no, no I didn't think so at all ;)

[birdygirl]

ok.

[Umbrella]

Some Congos are smarter than some timnehs and the other way around. It's the same thing with; "who are the best talkers, the African greys or the amazons?" There is no rule for such a thing, they are individuals, it really depends on their environment as well.

[somnseph]

I agree with Umbrella: everything I've ever read says that it really depends on the bird itself...

[birdgirl]

I heard from some one that it depends on the owner if the owner talks a lot then the bird will
maybe thats why Hammie wont stop talking :D