# Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 1)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 13, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674 "2020-04-13T03:19:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 9692

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**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9692 "2024-06-13T22:32:53Z")

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Today I stumbled across the fact that parrots are able to do a thing called [eye pinning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_pinning). From the link:

> **Eye pinning** , also known as **eye flashing** or **eye blazing** , is a form of body language used by [parrots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrot). The term that refers to the rapid and very conspicuous dilation and constriction of the [pupils](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupil) of the bird’s eyes in response to an external stimulus. Unlike humans, parrots are able to control this reflex and use it as a form of [nonverbal communication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonverbal_communication). It is a common behavior in [amazons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_parrot), [macaws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaw), _[Poicephalus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poicephalus)_ species and the [African grey parrots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psittacus).

I have no idea how this is called in any other language that I speak, wikipedia does not link to any other language except Persian!  
ETA: [Chicken](https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/chicken-eye-pinning) can do this too! I think I have found a rabbit hole here. Excuse me for a while.

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