In a time of intellectual power, this idiom has never rung more true in our modern society. However, it turns out that astuteness is also a prized attribute among winged animals, as recent research, led by Jiani Chen from, have discovered that female budgerigars (budgies) actually choose their breeding mate for their cognitive abilities, above beauty or brawn. This breakthrough in animal behaviour brings to naught the perception that the courting process are based on the physical attractiveness of the male.