Parrot beaks generate large forces, sometimes even up to 37 times their body weight
Parrots have a newfound ability to swing across branches like monkeys
The movement technique is called 'beakiation'
This newfound ability allows parrots to navigate complex environments with ease
Parrots are known for their intelligence and problem-solving skills. In a new study, researchers have discovered that parrots can use their beaks to swing across branches like monkeys. The movement technique is called “beakiation” and involves the same forces as seen in primates using their forearms to swing across branches.
Parrot beaks generate large forces, sometimes even up to 37 times their body weight. This newfound ability allows parrots to navigate complex environments with ease.
The parrots proved their talents in a lab as they navigated perches that got smaller and smaller, using their beaks to move beneath the wire and hanging from it while swinging their legs and bodies.
> Parrots have been documented using their beaks to swing across branches like monkeys for the first time.<
Parrot beaks generate large forces, sometimes even up to 37 times their body weight.
Accuracy
It's not the first time parrots have been observed using their noggins to get by. In a previous study, lovebirds used their beaks to grab and help climb as they walked on progressively steeper surfaces.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that parrots are capable of swinging like monkeys when in fact they do not have the same physical capabilities as primates. Secondly, the author uses sensational language such as 'beakiation' to describe a behavior that is not unique or particularly impressive compared to other animals. Thirdly, the article quotes scientists who suggest parrots walk with three limbs which is incorrect and misleading.
The title implies that parrots are capable of swinging like monkeys when in fact they do not have the same physical capabilities as primates.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes Edwin Dickinson as a biomechanist at the New York Institute of Technology. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing parrots as 'incredibly smart animals' and 'really good problem solvers'. Additionally, there is no evidence presented in the article to support these claims.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Carolyn Wilke has conflicts of interest on the topics of parrots and monkeys as she is reporting for The New York Institute of Technology which may have a vested interest in these subjects.
Parrots can use their beaks to swing along branches in a technique called beakiation.
This is the first time that this behavior has been documented by researchers.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(20%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that parrots can use their beaks to swing along branches using a technique called 'beakiation'. However, this term does not exist and was made up by the author for convenience. Secondly, the article states that parrots have been found to use their heads to propel themselves upwards while climbing. This is incorrect as there is no evidence of such behavior in parrots.
The sentence 'Parrots can work their way along branches by using their beaks to swing their body a newly identified form of avian motion that has been dubbed “beakiation”.' is deceptive as the term 'beakiation' does not exist and was made up for convenience.
The sentence 'Parrots have a few ways of getting around: flying, walking and even climbing. A previous study found that they can use their heads to propel themselves upwards while they are climbing.' is deceptive as there is no evidence of such behavior in parrots.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Chen Ly has a conflict of interest on the topic of parrots as they are owned by a company that produces products related to avian motion.
Parrots can travel along thin branches using a side-swinging motion that involves their beaks and feet, called 'beakiation'
Beakiation is an innovative solution to a novel problem for parrots, and it was not something they were trained to do
Accuracy
Beakiation is used by parrots to move along narrow branches when the best way to shuffle along it is to use their beaks and feet in a cyclical side-swinging motion
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that parrots are known to be brainiacs without providing any evidence or citation. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the birds' movements as 'shuffling across the underside of a branch using both feet and their beak'. This is an example of a dichotomous depiction fallacy as it presents only two options for movement (either shuffling or not). The article also contains informal fallacies such as when the author states that parrots are specialized for climbing and moving around in trees without providing any evidence to support this claim. Overall, while there are no formal logical fallacies present in the article, it is important to be cautious of inflammatory language and dichotomous depictions.
Parrots “are specialized for climbing and moving around in the trees,” says biomechanist Michael Granatosky of the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury. But, he wondered, “what would happen if you flip a bird upside down or make them go onto the tiniest [branch] possible?”
The sidestep involves shuffling across the underside of a branch using both feet and the beak
Parrots have been documented using their beaks to swing across branches like monkeys for the first time.
> The movement technique, called 'beakiation', uses the same forces as seen in primatesƔforearms as they swing across branches.
Parrots employ a distinct form of locomotion called beakiation, which involves the simultaneous release of both hindlimbs followed by the grasping position in front of them.
> The slow and careful movement happened at about 0.1 m/s with each stride taking the bird forward by a length of 70mm.
Parrot beaks generate large forces, sometimes even up to 37 times their body weight.
Accuracy
> Parrots have been documented using their beaks to swing across branches like monkeys for the first time.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of parrots using their beaks to swing across branches like monkeys for the first time. The article mentions that Vishwam Sankaran is an animal behaviorist and researcher who studies parrot behavior.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of parrots using their beaks to swing across branches like monkeys for the first time. The article mentions that this behavior is rare and unusual in parrots, but it does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships between the author and anyone else related to this topic.
The article states that 'this behavior is rare and unusual in parrots'.
