Talking birds are popular pets because they can mimic human speech or even perform tricks. Some species have a greater capacity for speech. However, no bird will learn to talk without spending quality time with their humans. They need to interact and listen to repeated words and phrases. If you’re hoping to train a feathered friend to mimic your voice, here are eight talking bird breeds to consider.
African Grey
The highly intelligent African grey is often regarded as the best talking bird. Some amass vocabularies of hundreds of words. There’s even research suggesting these parrots can use words in context to have simple conversations. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they understand what they’re saying. In any case, this kind of verbalization takes years of patient training and practice.
Amazon Parrot
Many Amazon parrots can learn to speak with exceptional clarity, and they generally have very sweet voices. Their innate need to socialize is possibly what draws them to mimic humans. They’re intelligent, spirited birds that love being the center of attention. They bond closely with their caretakers, requiring lots of social interaction and ample space to play.
Budgerigar
Not to be outdone by the bigger birds, the budgie (or parakeet) is an excellent talking bird. In fact, budgies have broken world records for the largest bird vocabulary. While their voices tend to be a bit gravelly, budgies are capable of learning many words and phrases. And because they are quite social birds, many enjoy practicing speech with their caretakers.
Cockatoo
Although they typically aren’t superb talking birds, cockatoos can pick up some words and phrases. They are very social and affectionate. Sometimes they border on needy. Caregivers should expect to spend hours each day interacting with their birds. On the plus side, this bond makes cockatoos willing to practice tricks, including speech, with their humans.
Eclectus
While they’re usually not excessively noisy, Eclectus parrots can develop an extensive vocabulary of human words. These birds are generally friendly and gentle, and they thrive on socialization with their caretakers. Some say a male Eclectus is typically easier to train. The female bird is more independent. Consequently, she is better able to handle stress.
Indian Ringneck Parakeet
Indian ringneck parakeets seem to have a gift for learning longer phrases, outperforming some other breeds of talking birds. They also tend to speak with clarity. Centuries ago in India, religious leaders said daily prayers in their gardens. They began to notice local ringnecks repeating the prayers. This led to the birds being regarded as sacred and ultimately caused people to keep them as pets.
Macaw
Like cockatoos, macaws aren’t as verbose as some other talking birds, but they do have the ability to mimic speech. Some species, such as the blue-and-gold macaw, are known to learn words more easily than others. While their speech isn’t always clear, macaws tend to be noisy birds. So expect a bird that will talk your ear off—just not always in a language you understand.
Quaker Parrot
Quaker parrots, also known as monk parakeets, are illegal in some parts of the United States. This is because feral flocks have become invasive. Check local laws if you want to adopt one. Quakers are very social and tend to pick up human speech quickly. Being such fast learners, they are popular among inexperienced bird owners who are new to training a bird to talk.
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