Cocky Cockatoo Barks Like A Dog Confusing Its Owner

A bizarre video has emerged featuring a cockatoo barking like a dog. Not only does it sound like a dog, it bucks its head while it barks, furthering the illusion that it is a dog. Hilarious!

Parrot species mimic sounds around them to a variety of degrees and for a variety of reasons. Their mimicry skills show off their ability to learn how to behave like other individuals. Imitative vocal learning is also a reliable social display of neural functions requiring good hearing, memory and muscle control for sound production.

Given the huge variety of sounds that parrots mimic, a dog’s bark is pretty far from being the strangest sound a cockatoo has ever made. Animal science can explain why this bird is offering viewers a hefty dose of cognitive dissonance when it acts and sounds like a dog!

The cockatoo belongs to a family of medium-sized parrots, which generally communicate with one another by vocalizing in a really loud, annoying squawk. Also, cockatoos, like other parrots, can mimic the sounds they hear in their environment.

These birds have been exposed to strange sounds beyond those of their natural habitat. The viral barking bird, in particular, seems to have either been hanging out with dogs or listening to a whole lot of DMX.

Watch how Cookie, the cocky bird, tries to deceive owner that a dog has entered their household. It is hilarious how this cockatoo has picked up some skills from his dog pal, and well-mastered the barking technique. He also bucks its head while he barks, making us not believe our eyes!