Parrots are psittacines, a group of birds with the brain-to-body ratio of a great ape. They possess a region in their brains (the dorsolateral corticoid area) that is functionally analogous to the human prefrontal cortex—the seat of our emotions. Consequently, when a parrot is sad, scared, or sick, it cannot hide it. The body becomes a canvas for its internal turmoil. This is referred to in clinical settings as .