Can your bird talk?
Most people that own parrots are very used to this question from those first meeting their birds. Talking birds have fascinated people for centuries. Amazons that sing opera, African greys that mimic telephone rings to perfection, are not uncommon. In fact, many of us are fortunate enough to own one or more of these talking wonders.
Parrots are excellent mimics, and will associate words and sounds with people and situations very appropriately. Although most parrots have the ability to talk , some species are famous for their broad vocabularies.
This article will focus on the most reliable talking birds, which include African greys, Amazons, Macaws, Lories, Mynahs, Cockatoos, Quaker parakeets and Conures.
African Greys
Congo African Grey - Click to Enlarge
Timneh Grey Parrot - Click to Enlarge
When someone thinks of a talking parrot, the African grey usually tops the list, and he definitely deserves it. This includes both Congos ( Psittacus erithacus erithacus) and Timnehs ( Psittacus erithacus timneh). They have the abilities to mimic specific sounds, such as creaking doors, barking dogs, running water, meowing cats and sirens.These sounds can be uttered with amazing accuracy, and anyone unfamiliar with these birds would be shocked to hear the impressive repertoire of a talented grey. Of interest, greys often begin to speak at an older age than their Amazon rivals. A lot of people become disappointed that their grey babies refuse to talk. Have patience! Some domestic greys do not even begin talking until the age of 18 months.Since many people pay a lot of money specifically for a talking bird, they give up too soon with young greys. When African greys do begin to talk, they usually develop their vocabularies rapidly. Greys learn to imitate specific voices more rapidly than Amazons do. African greys that have lived in homes occupied by both male and female owners will frequently carry on conversations with themselves, alternating between women’s and men’s voices. No other parrot species can top a grey’s whistling ability. That comes naturally to them.
As pets, African greys tend to be rather timid and take longer to acclimate to new surroundings than most parrots. But birds that become comfortable with their owners behave in a very gentle and affectionate manner. They also remain that way upon reaching sexual maturity, which is quite different from some Amazons.
Amazons
Yellow Naped Amazon - Click to Enlarge
Blue Fronted Amazon - Click to Enlarge
Double Yellow Head Amazon - Click to Enlarge
They are one of the most popular pets, and for a good reason. Amazons have beautiful green body feathers, and depending on the species shades of red, yellow, blue, white and lilac also appear on the head and wing . Most Amazon species are capable of becoming good talkers, but some rise above the others in this respect. The top three talking subspecies are the Yellow Nape ( A. ochrocephala auropalliata ), the Double Yellowhead ( A. ochrocephala oratrix ) and the Blue fronted ( A. aestiva xanthopteryx ). These three can master human speech with great accuracy.
Mynahs
Mynah Bird - Click to Enlarg
Mynah birds are best-known for their fast learning and accurate mimicking abilities. Mynahs will repeat entire sentences they hear over and over with voices that are quite human like. They are extremely lively and active, mynahs like to hop, fly and walk , so they require large cages to allow for proper exercise.
Cockatoos and Macaws
Umbrella Cockatoo - Click to Enlarge
Scarlet Macaw - Click to Enlarge
Although many people may think that large macaws and cockatoos make great talkers, this is not usually the case. They can talk but in a much more limited way. The voices of larger cockatoos and macaws definitely lack the clarity of some other talking parrots. Umbrellas and Moluccans have rather high voices. What cockatoos and macaws lack in talking ability, they make up for in intelligence.You would be hard pressed to find a more intelligent parrot. Their behavior makes this fact obvious. Anyone who has owned one of these birds can tell you what avian geniuses they are. For many of these birds, unlocking cages and learning tricks can be accomplished with ease.
Quaker Parakeets
Quaker Parakeet - Click to Enlarge
These olive-grayish colored birds have outgoing personalities and tend to be somewhat noisy. As far as talking ability, pet Quakers often develop extensive vocabularies. Quakers that do not learn to talk often learn to mimic noises that they hear in their environments. They make lovable, animated companions.
Conures
Sun Conures - Click to Enlarge
The most common conures with a talking ability include nandays, suns, jendays, blue crowns and peach fronts. They are not nearly as good as the African Greys or Amazons but some can develop pretty impressive repertoires. Conures may be noisy birds, and they are not as likely to substitute words for screams as are larger birds.
Lories and Lorikeets
Red Lory - Click to Enlarge
Rainbow Lorikeet - Click to Enlarge
Many people do not realize that lories and lorikeets often become excellent talkers. They have very colorful plumage and great personalities, and make excellent pets when hand-fed. Baby lories may even begin to pick up words shortly after weaning. Talking lories have clear and very pleasant voices.
Talking is just one of the many exceptional qualities that pet parrots have. Don’t buy a bird simply because you want a talking pet. Parrots should be enjoyed for their intelligence, companionship, beauty and unique personalities. Finding that the bird you own also talks is the icing on the cake.
