In 1972 a young African grey parrot named Alex was brought to the attention of animal psychologist Dr. Irene Pepperberg. Alex was different from other parrots in that he was incredibly smart and could communicate with humans.
Over the next 30 years Dr. Pepperberg and her team worked with Alex teaching him how to communicate using over 100 words. They also tested his intelligence by conducting quizzes with him.
One of the most famous quizzes they did was the object permanence test which measures a animal’s ability to understand that an object still exists even when it’s out of sight.
Alex did incredibly well on this test as well as others showing that he had a level of intelligence similar to that of a 3-year-old human child.
Sadly Alex passed away in 2007 but his legacy continues on. He has helped change the way we view animal intelligence and has shown that parrots are far more intelligent than we ever thought possible.
What is the name of the African grey parrot that was famous for its words and phrases?
Answer: Alex
Where was Alex born?
Answer: In Africa
How did Alex die?
Answer: It is not known exactly how Alex died but it is thought that he may have passed away from old age.
How long did Alex live?
Answer: Alex lived for about 31 years.
What was the first word that Alex said?
Answer: “Hello”
How many words and phrases did Alex know?
Answer: It is estimated that Alex knew about 200 words and phrases.
Who taught Alex to talk?
Answer: Alex was taught to talk by Dr.
Irene Pepperberg a cognitive scientist.
What other tricks could Alex do?
Answer: In addition to talking Alex could also count up to six and he could identify different colors and shapes.
What did Alex enjoy doing?
Answer: Alex enjoyed taking baths and listening to classical music.
Was Alex ever filmed or televised?
Answer: Yes Alex appeared on several television shows and documentaries.
What did Alex do when he was bored?
Answer: When he was bored Alex would sometimes pluck out his feathers.
Did Alex ever have a mate?
Answer: Yes Alex had a mate named Gracie.
Did Alex and Gracie have any offspring?
Answer: No Alex and Gracie did not have any offspring.
What was the last thing that Alex said?
Answer: The last thing that Alex said was “You be good see you tomorrow.
I love you.
“
What was the reaction to Alex’s death?
Answer: Alex’s death was widely publicized and many people were saddened by the news.
