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How does a cockatoo open locks and learn words—like a real student?

Imagine a bird that approaches a cage, examines the lock, picks up a pin in its beak, and—click!—opens it. Then a second lock. A third. A fifth. This is not a fairy tale—this is a real cockatoo named Figaro from a laboratory in Vienna. Scientists put different types of locks in front of him, and he solved them all by himself, without a single clue!

Why are cockatoos so smart? Because their brains work like a five-year-old child's. They don't just memorize - they think, they experiment, they look for solutions.

Do you know how many words a cockatoo can learn? Over 100! And it's not just "a parrot repeating." Some cockatoos understand what you're saying. A bird can ask: "I want a nut!" and expect a nut, not an apple. If you give it an apple, it will be offended and throw it away.

And cockatoos dance. Yes, yes, real dances to the beat of music! A parrot named Snowball became famous all over the world because he rhythmically shook his head to rock and roll. Scientists have proven that he does not imitate a person, but really feels the rhythm. Before him, it was believed that only people could do this.

Cockatoos live up to 80 years. This means that one bird can become a friend for three generations of one family — grandmother, mother, and child.

The cockatoo is a reminder that intelligence is not just for schoolchildren. Sometimes it sits on a branch, holding a nut, and looks at you intently with its black eyes.