Could Parrots be trained as spies?

John Shoes · #1 10-27-2007, 08:30 PM

This could be parody or real.Parrots are able to talk and repeat what humans say to them.Do you think they have the intelligence to act as spies too?

menlo girl · #2 10-27-2007, 08:30 PM

Since they talk so much I don't think they would make good spies. They would tell everything they heard.

Guinness · #3 10-27-2007, 08:38 PM

Polly wanna spy? Sure, you send in the Macaw, she listens, flies home and says "Bin Laden in Oman, Bin Laden in Oman.... rrrawwk.

Jamz · #4 10-27-2007, 08:42 PM

Doubtful, but would be a fun experiment!

Breezey · #5 10-27-2007, 08:45 PM

Okay, I get this! They could be.. they would use double talk and they would be allowed to back talk.If you think about it, one that repeats is already double trouble for the enemy.If you ask them their secret agent name, they will tell you it's 0077. If they switch sides, they might become known as double agents and repeat offenders.I really tried! You tell me! : )How ya doing, John?

Maeci · #6 01-17-2008, 01:57 AM

LOL...I don't think so. Your objective would notice the bird, wouldn't he? The hardest part would be explaining why a macaw or a grey is following him everywhere...

ibis · #7 01-17-2008, 07:02 PM

Yeah, parrots don't have any concept of what they're saying when they say it. Mimicry is just an adaptive trait they evolved.

Sounds like it could be something funny in a movie though!

ken7700 · #8 05-11-2008, 05:05 PM

My luck if I even was able to train a Parrot as a spy he would tell all my secrets and I would get in trouble . I think spy training would be very tough, but an interesting thought lol!

Jax Nova · #9 05-14-2008, 11:11 AM

Sounds like a really cool idea!

I have heard that the African Gray has the mental capacity of a five year old child... I think a five year old child would be able to do some (very simple) spying.

(trust me... when my brother was 5 me and my sister sent him to spy on my parents all the time so we could sneak off and do something and he could alert us when they started coming back!! lol)

So who knows... if they really do have the intellect of a five year old... maybe they could do some.

ken7700 · #10 05-14-2008, 09:39 PM

If they could be trained as spies I would have them follow my kids around so I could catch them doing things wrong lol!

I think that would be the greatest surprise to them.