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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Parrots give each other gifts without promise of reward

African grey parrots show a type of insightful generosity recorded in only humans, orangutans and a few other species.
African grey parrot, named Lizzy, at Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain.

African grey parrots bestow favours on others of their species— even those that can’t reciprocate. Credit: Anette Mertens

Humans and some other apes are known for helping unrelated members of their own species. Now, the first non-mammal, the African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), joins the ranks of animals that provide help after gauging the beneficiary’s needs.


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Nature 577, 297 (2020)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-00019-2

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