15 Amazing Facts About 15 Birds

A common raven looking pretty pleased with itself.
A common raven looking pretty pleased with itself. / Andreas Saatze-Stein/500px/Getty Images
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15. Budgies catch each other’s yawns.

Budgies perched on a twig.
Budgies perched on a twig. / Olga Palinska/EyeEm/Getty Images

Budgerigars, or budgies, a common parakeet, are the only known bird species susceptible to contagious yawning. While humans, dogs, chimps, lab rats, and a few other creatures have all been known to catch each other’s yawns, budgies are the first non-mammal species observed exhibiting the behavior. Many scientists believe the unconscious, instinctual response may be a primitive way of showing empathy, or it might be a sign of group alertness.

A version of this story ran in 2016; it has been updated for 2023.