Why do parrots mimic sounds? This delightful behavior has many benefits to a wild bird. While numerous bird species' calls are developmentally hard wired, parrots (as well as some other types of birds) rely on learning for vocal development. This allows the bird to form context-specific calls, and is a social display that can only be achieved through good hearing, muscle control, and memory. By imitating these very specific sounds, the bird displays healthy neural functions, and those functions