Birds that can talk and make great pets include parrots, mynah birds, and crows. Parrots like African grey parrots and budgerigars are well-known for their ability to mimic human speech. Mynah birds also have strong mimicry skills and can learn up to 100 words or more. Certain species of crows such as yellow-billed magpies can also learn to say many words and phrases.
The most popular talking pet birds are parrots like the African grey parrot. They are highly intelligent and social birds that bond closely with their owners. African greys can learn hundreds of words and phrases and are able to use them appropriately in context. Other talkative parrot species include Amazon parrots, macaws, cockatoos, conures, and budgerigars.
What Makes a Good Talking Pet Bird?
There are several key factors that make certain bird species better at talking than others:
- High intelligence – Birds like parrots and crows are very smart which allows them to mimic human speech and associate words and sounds with meaning.
- Social nature – Highly social birds with strong flock bonds tend to learn to communicate better with humans when tamed.
- Anatomy – Birds with more muscular tongues and throat structures can articulate sounds and words more clearly.
- Active and playful – Smart active birds that love games and interaction tend to pick up more vocabulary.
- Lifespan – Long-lived birds have more time to develop their speech and vocabulary repertoire.
African grey parrots excel in all of these areas which is why they are renowned as the best talking birds. They live 60+ years, are highly social and intelligent, and have excellent mimicry abilities. Other parrot species share many of the same traits which also makes them skilled at talking.
Best Talking Pet Bird Species
Here are some of the top talking pet bird species:
- African Grey Parrot – This is the gold standard for talking birds. They can learn hundreds of words and phrases and use them conversationally. African greys form very close bonds with their owners.
- Amazon Parrots – Amazons include yellow-naped, blue-fronted, and yellow-headed parrots. They are social, playful, and can learn 50-100+ words.
- Cockatoos – Cockatoos are extremely affectionate and cuddly. Some popular talking species are umbrella cockatoos, Moluccan cockatoos, and yellow-crested cockatoos.
- Conures – Active and fun-loving small parrots. Green-cheeked and sun conures are popular talking pet conure species.
- Budgerigars – Also known as common parakeets, these small Australian parrots can develop vocabulary of 30-50+ words.
- Crows – Certain crow species like yellow-billed magpies have strong mimicry skills and can learn 20+ words and short phrases.
- Mynah Birds – Mynahs are renowned for their talking ability in the wild. Some species kept as pets include hill mynahs and common mynahs.
Other Bird Species with Talking Ability
While parrots are the most gifted talking birds, a number of other bird species also have some capacity to mimic speech and other sounds. These include:
- Starlings – Common starlings are exceptional mimics and can reproduce sounds and small snippets of speech.
- Lyrebirds – Superb lyrebirds in Australia are amazing mimics of almost any sound.
- Ravens – Common ravens can say a few words and are very intelligent.
- Hornbills – Some hornbill species kept as pets may say a small number of words.
- Hill mynahs – These mynahs are excellent mimics and can learn large vocabularies like parrots.
- Mockingbirds – Northern mockingbirds pick up songs, calls, and short phrases.
However, these species do not generally match the talking capabilities of parrots on average. Their abilities are limited to either small vocabularies of 1-20 or so words or excellent mimicry of sounds only.
Choosing the Right Talking Bird
If you want a talking pet bird, some key things to consider are:
- Cost – Talking parrot species range from $500 – $3000+ depending on rarity, demand, and breeding.
- Size – Small parrot species like budgies and conures need less space than large macaws and cockatoos.
- Noise level – Large parrots are very loud compared to quieter birds like budgies.
- Care difficulty – Larger and more intelligent species require more interaction and mental stimulation.
- Lifespan – Some birds like African greys live 60+ years, while budgies average 10-15 years.
Do your research to pick a talking bird that best fits your preferences, budget, lifestyle, and experience level. Meet the individual bird if possible since personality also influences talking ability.
Caring for Talking Birds
Talking pet birds are highly intelligent, social animals. Here are some key care guidelines:
- Proper diet – A balanced diet with nutrients and variety is critical.
- Large enclosure – The larger the better to allow flying and climbing.
- Toys – Rotate new toys to stimulate them mentally and physically.
- Socialization – Spend time interacting, talking, and playing daily.
- Training – Use positive reinforcement to teach speech and tricks.
- Vet visits – Annual exams and care help maintain good health.
Talking birds also need plenty of attention, stimulation, and affection. Allow them out-of-cage time daily and be patient with speech training. Proper care promotes better vocabulary development and happier, well-adjusted birds.
Teaching a Bird to Talk
It takes consistent effort to teach a bird speech. Here are some training tips:
- Use simple, common words and short phrases to start. Repeat them clearly and consistently around your bird.
- Have engaging training sessions of 15-30 minutes, a couple times daily. Use treats to encourage and reward speaking.
- Be patient and persistent. It can take months for birds to start mimicking speech.
- Use words in context. Combine a word or phrase with an action to help your bird learn meaning.
- Add gestures like waving when saying “hello” and “goodbye.” It helps make the association.
- Don’t overload your bird with too many words at once. Build vocabulary slowly over time.
- Give your bird’s speech plenty of positive reinforcement. Be excited when they mimic talking!
With regular short training sessions, most talkative pet birds can pick up at least 10-20+ words and phrases over their first year with patient owners.
Advantages of Talking Pet Birds
There are many benefits to choosing a talking bird as a pet including:
- Companionship – Talking birds bond very closely with owners.
- Interaction – Their speech allows more interactive “conversations.”
- Intelligence – Birds with speech are super smart and entertaining.
- Affection – Talking parrots thrive on attention and cuddling.
- Novelty – Amazing hearing a pet bird talk, laugh, or sing.
- Popularity – Talking birds like African greys are very impressive to guests.
A talking bird’s ability to mimic speech helps strengthen the close social bond between pet and owner. Their vocal skills make caring for talking birds fun and fascinating!
Potential Drawbacks of Talking Birds
While talking birds make awesome pets, there are some potential challenges to consider:
- Expense – Purchase cost and proper ongoing care has high financial costs.
- Noise – Loud vocalizations may be annoying, especially with large parrots.
- Mess – Birds shed seeds/food and some feather dust.
- Biting – Parrots may bite if frightened or mishandled.
- Time commitment – Intelligent talking birds need significant daily interaction.
- Longevity – Birds like African greys live 60+ years – a long-term commitment!
Make sure you are ready for the responsibility and costs of providing your talking bird a healthy, enriching lifestyle throughout its long lifespan.
Top 5 Talking Birds Summary
Here is a quick overview of 5 of the best talking bird species as pets:
Bird | Words/Phrases | Traits | Care Difficulty |
---|---|---|---|
African Grey | Over 100 | Super smart, social, excellent mimic | Moderate |
Amazon parrots | 50-100 | Fun-loving, affectionate | Moderate |
Cockatoos | 10-100 | Extremely cuddly and animated | High needs |
Conures | 20-30 | Active, acrobatic, cute | Moderate |
Budgerigars | 30-50 | Small, colorful, low-cost | Easy |
Conclusion
Birds that can talk and make awesome pets include parrots like African greys, Amazons, cockatoos, conures, and budgies. Mynahs and crows also have some mimicry skills. With proper care, socialization, and training, these intelligent birds develop extensive vocabularies of words and phrases that help enrich the experience of owning them. Their ability to talk, combined with their affectionate natures, make talking birds fun and engaging companions. Consider both the benefits and challenges of choosing a talking bird to ensure it will thrive as your pet.