This is bird note. I'm Lola Neal and I'm a neuroscientist.

We've all heard the term bird brain, a pejorative phrase meant to describe a person as

stupid or foolish, but in neuroscience, birds are used as models to study many

neural processes as they have cognitive abilities comparable to those of the cleverest mammals.

Birds have exhibited surprisingly complex behaviors

that peak the interest of scientists.

Pigeons can be trained to complete tasks.

Corvids like ravens and crows appear

to experience self-awareness, and songbirds use

syllabic songs to communicate with each other.

Studying vocal learning and imitation in songbirds like Seabrafinches has helped

the researchers explore how language is acquired, an important topic in human

infant development and beyond. Much like how an infant's babbling becomes simple sounds and words, which then becomes complex

language and children and adults, juvenile songbirds learn the songs of their parents,

with syllables as a building block.

Over time, these syllables can then be rearranged if needed, for example, to imitate another sound they hear.

Scientists are working to understand how avian brains process, remember, and reproduce vocalizations.

Not only will this information help scientists and the public understand the complexities of bird behavior,

it even creates opportunities to better understand human language development and acquisition.

The underestimated bird's brain is an incredibly powerful tool for neuroscientists

and has given us insights that connect humans and birds in new and exciting ways.