This is the new best bird ever.

[Kalium]

One of the theories on evolution holds that intelligence is a side effect of tool using. Other than apes tool users are pretty fucking rare so it's not very likely another species will involve intelligence in the next few millions years. And even if they started to, humans would just kill the fuckers off before they could be competition.

Otters and some dolphins manage forms of tool-using.

[Fall_Child42]

your mom manages forms of tool using.

[godix]

Otters and some dolphins manage forms of tool-using.

So do some birds IIRC. However none of them have opposable thumbs so it's questionable how developed the tools they could use, thus the IQ needed to make them. Granted, that theory is based on examining one sample so it's debatable how stolid a theory that really is.

[guy07]

This is stupid. Parrots don't KNOW what they are saying, they merely mimic the sounds they hear mindlessly. They don't ACTUALLY talk, they just make noises that mimic some speech or other sounds...

Well nobody can confirm if they are capable of intelligent thought. And they may very well be mixing random sounds they have learned along with some association to and object. But in my opinion, they are pretty smart, they just need the right type of brain stimulation.
A good example would be in the video savia linked. It could tell what number of a certain color of shape there were on the plate. That a lot of specifics to narrow down. And it was even to speak off topic when it said it wants to go home. But like I said, that off topic part may very well be random or conditioned to a reaction and not related to thought at all.

....wait, why are we arguing about this again? I'm not a scientist! I'm not thinking anymore until somebody starts paying me >: (

[JaddziaDax]

you were thinking before?

[Savia]

Necropost'd:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2Bsu4z9Y3k

[Niotex]

Thats one funky bird you got there Savia.

[x_rex30]

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/9211 ... nwaux8.gif