Questions about parrot social organization, just curious...?

Question

Hello. :) Certain observations about how our budgies at work interact in their large group have made me curious about the social organization in parrot flocks. Feel free to answer any of the following. You don't have to tackle them all if you don't want.

1. How does socialization work in budgies and other parrots? For example, is there one distinct leader or are things mostly cooperative...? 
2. Do you think wild and captive flocks form social structures the same way?
3. How does "dominance" theory apply to their social organization (if it does at all)? In other words how is dominance gained and how is it expressed? Or is there no absolute dominance? 
4. Is the height-relative-to-"dominance" theory accurate or not? (This is the idea that birds higher up on the social ladder perch higher than others.) 

I have my own opinions already but I'm interested to know what you all have observed for yourselves. Thanks! :)

brucemoko · Accepted Answer

1. Things are mostly cooperative - there isn't a distinct leader (but socialization means the process of learning social behaviors - which they need to pick up from their parents/peers/owners).

2. Wild flocks seldom include other species and tend to be larger and more dynamic.  Captive flocks seldom split up or merge and often include people or other types of bird.

3. There is no absolute dominance.  There is a lot of squabbling.  This is especially try for large flocks, such as budgies in the wild can form.

4. Birds "higher up" the social ladder do tend to take the more desirable perches.  That may mean the highest - or the closest to the food, or the one with the best toys, etc.

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Questions about parrot social organization, just curious...?

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