Where is the parrot's ears? How parrots hear

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:45

Professional breeders and common parrot lovers are sure to want to learn more about their pets. An experienced specialist must be aware of the anatomy and physiology of birds in order to avoid problems and notice something was wrong in time. But those who have only recently acquired an exotic pet often have the most unexpected questions. For example, do you know where the parrot's ears are?

Photos of the hearing organs of birds and their detailed description can be found in our article. Let's get to the bottom of the issue.

Do parrots have ears?

Or maybe they don't exist at all? Let's reason. As you know, parrots are great imitators. A smart bird can reproduce not only human speech, but also many other sounds from everyday life: the squeak of household appliances and gadgets, the meow of a cat and even the voices of other birds.

Obviously, this would not be possible if the parrot had no ears and good hearing. Definitely not deaf!

But looking at the bird, looking at it from all sides, it's hard to understand where the parrot's ears are. Its head is covered with feathers, the length and color of which varies depending on the species. But it would seem that there is nothing that looks like ears on the head of a parrot …

Where are the hearing organs located?

Don't grab your pet and spread the feathers on his head, trying to find the ears. You won't find them there. The outer ear of a parrot is completely different from that of a human, dog or cat. Its little ear is a neat hole. The entrance to the auditory tube is small even in large species. From external influences, the ear is protected by feathers.

The length of the feathers determines how well the ear is visible to the naked eye. For example, where the ears of budgerigars are located is not difficult to determine. Take a closer look at the pet: for sure you will notice small dark spots on the sides of the head. But it is more difficult to determine where the ears of the cockatiel parrot are, because the feathers of this bird are slightly longer. Yes, and ruddy cheeks can be confusing. The ears of these birds are located just in red spots and are hidden by feathers.

Building features

While the bird is very young, it is easier to see its hearing organs. In chicks that have not yet fledged, they are clearly visible.

The parrot has no outer ear, only the middle and inner ear. The middle ear is a cavity filled with air. It contains muscles, ligaments, the tympanic membrane, a round window and a rod-shapedbone. This bone is the only one in the organ of hearing. It is mobile, with its help vibrations of the eardrum are displayed.

These vibrations cause vibrations in the fluid-filled inner ear. Further, the impulse is transmitted to the brain, where the interpretation of sounds takes place.

The inner ear is very complex. Inside it are labyrinths that are responsible for balance and orientation. This organ transmits to the brain information about the position of the bird in space, the height and trajectory of the flight, the distance to other birds.

How a parrot hears

There are leathery folds near the place where the parrot has an ear. Feathers on them play the role of a kind of locators. If necessary, the bird can move these folds, thus adjusting the volume of the received sounds.

When a parrot is frightened, it looks like it ruffles up. Feathers rise, move away from the auditory tube. The bird perfectly hears even very quiet and distant sounds. And if the parrot wants to sleep, moving the folds, he can muffle extraneous noise by pressing the feathers more tightly to the head.

The hearing of parrots is very good. Frequency range: 120 Hz to 15 kHz.

Diseases of the hearing organs

If you notice that dirty, matted or wet feathers have appeared in the place where the parrots have ears, the bird should be immediately taken to the doctor. The fact that the pet is constantly scratching the tank of the head should also alert.

If the bird is provided with good conditions, and the owner treats it with love and care, there is no fear of he alth problemscosts. Parrots have a fairly strong immune system, and there are practically no specific diseases. Ear problems usually occur if water has entered the auditory tube. This should be avoided by all means: if your pet loves water procedures, carefully make sure that the place where the parrot has ears is not immersed in water and not wet at all.

Sometimes birds can hurt their ears in a fight or while playing. In such cases, it is also worth consulting with a veterinarian.

Interesting facts

To consolidate the material, let's look at some interesting facts related to the hearing organs of a parrot.

• The ear is not only an organ of hearing. The vestibular apparatus is also located in the middle ear. If the parrot is injured or sick, it may not be able to navigate the terrain. Not only can he fly, but even keeping his balance on a perch can be difficult.
• In the UK lives Ted Richards, who loves his pet so much that he decided to become like him with the help of a tattoo artist. But the feather pattern seemed to him not enough - and he removed his own auricles. Observing his own pet and knowing where the parrot's ears were, Richards decided that such a step was necessary to achieve similarity. The media dubbed him Parrot Man.

• These birds begin to hear immediately after birth and retain excellent hearing until the end of their lives.
• Parrots are social birds. In the wild, they live in large flocks. Ears play a very important role in communicating with relatives. Parrots warn a friendfriend, seeing the danger. With no less loud cry, they convene their relatives, seeing that there is an opportunity to eat something. These birds also communicate during the mating season: without good hearing, parrots could not find partners to create a family.