April 27, 2006

IF JAILBIRDS VOTE THEN WHY CAN'T I? (via Bryan Francoeur):

Songbirds can learn basic grammar (AP, 4/26/06)

The simplest grammar, long thought to be one of the skills that separate man from beast, can be taught to a common songbird, new research suggests.

Starlings learned to differentiate between a regular birdsong "sentence" and one containing a clause or another sentence of warbling, according to a study in Thursday's journal Nature.
Brother Francoeur wants to know how long before Spain gives them the vote.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 27, 2006 10:39 AM
Comments

Depends on what the birds are saying.

Posted by: John at April 27, 2006 11:20 AM

Their saying they're better at aping humans.

Posted by: Tom Wall at April 27, 2006 7:45 PM
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