Parrots and Sense of Smell - The Kaka

On a recent trip to New Zealand I finally met a parrot who clearly responds to smells. The bird in question is called a kaka. They are similar to a kea, but smaller and browner in coloration. The keeper told us this bird responded to smells. And she was right! He would press his nares against your hair or skin, inhale and then preen himself. You could actually hear him inhaling as he did it. The keeper mentioned they often offer strips of fabric with different scents on them for enrichment. She said he responds with great enthusiasm.

Here is a video clip of Robin Shewokis and me getting sniffed.

We were also told that a researcher is currently working on testing scent detection with kakapo, kea and kaka and has some interesting results. I can't wait to read that paper when it is ready. Time to perhaps officially change one of the truths we have often held to be true about parrots. Exciting!

Barbara Heidenreich
www.GoodBirdInc.com
Copyright 2011

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• parrot smell
• parrot scent
• kaka parrot
• parrot training

[kskiwi]

Barbara had I known you were coming to NZ I would have taken you out for a beer (a Tui brand of course). If you head this way again let me know

[GoodBirdInc]

@kskiwi you are back in NZ? Did you see my kakapo training posts?

[kskiwi]

@GoodBirdInc Yes I did, a friend posted them on facebook and i thought "I know that person" :) Back here for a year or so

[SUZ1000nz]

Great video clearly showing this Kaka enjoys the scent. Wild Kaka almost certainly use smell to find food such as wild fruits, flower nectar, insects under bark, etc

[sootykitty]

I LOVE this study. I've read in many different articles by various authors that parrots do not have a sense of smell. I find this testing of scent detection amazing. I wonder why it was thought that parrots didn't have a sense of smell to begin with in the first place. Interesting...