Top 10 Birds That Can Talk Like Humans

Birds are wonderful animals that are unique in appearance. Some birds can mimic human speech and use words they have heard from humans. These birds make great pets, and many people do not even know their names or where they can be found in the wild.

In this article, we will look at the top 10 birds that can talk like humans. We will also learn about them and where they can be found in the wild.

The Top 10 Talking Birds

1. African Grey Parrot

Scientific Name: Psittacus erithacus

Topping our list is the African Grey Parrot. This bird is often referred to as the most intelligent talking bird because they can learn a vast vocabulary and use words in context.

The African Grey Parrot is also known as the grey parrot, the Congo grey parrot, the African grey parrot, or Congo African grey parrot. This bird is native to African countries like Angola, Cameroon, the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda.

Grey parrots are grey and black-billed parrots that are approximately 33 cm (13 in) in length.

Since most humans prefer to keep grey parrots as pets, they can learn up to 1,000 words and remember them. They can give replies to certain words, and this is why people think they can freely talk like humans.

Fun Fact

One African Grey Parrot, named Alex, was popular for being extremely intelligent. He understood concepts like colour, number, and shape, proving just how smart these birds are.

2. Budgerigar (Budgie)

Scientific Name: Melopsittacus undulatus

Budgerigar is also known as the common parakeet or budgie. This bird is a small, long-tailed, colourful parrot native to Australia.

Budgerigars can be identified by their bright yellow and green feathers with black scalloping on their wing feathers. Although these birds are small, they can mimic human speech.

They can learn hundreds of words and phrases from humans and then mimic them with a cute, high-pitched voice.

Budgerigars are said to be the third most popular pet in the world, behind domestic dogs and cats. Domesticated Budgerigars can be taught to speak, whistle, and play with humans. This is why they are one of the perfect pets for many homes.

Fun Facts

Both male and female Budgerigars can sing, learn to mimic sounds and words, and do simple tricks. But males can learn a higher vocabulary as compared to females, who can rarely learn to mimic more than a dozen words.

3. Indian Ringneck Parakeet

Scientific Name: Psittacula krameri

The Indian Ringneck Parakeet, also known as the rose-ringed parakeet, ringneck parrot, or Kramer parrot, is another bird that can talk like humans.

These birds can develop a large vocabulary, which leaves many people surprised. They have clear speech and playful personalities.

Just as their names suggest, the Indian Ringneck Parakeets are native to India and many other African countries like Senegal, Burkina Faso, Sudan, and so on.

Indian Ringneck Parakeets have a distinctive green colour in the wild with a red beak and blue tail. They can also be identified by their unique pink and black neck ring.

These birds are fun and playful, especially when they use certain words to play games.

4. Quaker Parrot

Scientific Name: Myiopsitta monachus

Quaker Parrots are also known as monk parakeets or monk parrots. These birds are highly intelligent and social.

They can mimic human speech and engage in conversations with humans. They can also mimic laughter and other sounds, making the environment lively.

One advantage of these birds is that they have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Quaker Parrots are invasive species existing throughout North America and Europe.

Although they can come in different colours just like other parrot species, their iconic appearance is bright green with a greyish chest and greenish-yellow abdomen.

5. Amazon Parrot

Genus: Amazona

Amazon Parrots are another parrot species that can talk. They can pick up songs and phrases with great clarity.

There are more than 14 species of Amazon parrots living in South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Amazon parrots can be found in the wild in savannas and forests like scrub forests, palm groves, and rainforests.

Most of the Amazon parrot species are green, but they have contrasting colours on parts of the body, such as their crown, face, and flight feathers.

Besides their ability to talk and mimic other sounds, Amazon parrots have a lifespan of 30 to 50 years.

One species of Amazon parrot, the yellow-naped Amazons, has been observed to have vocal dialects. This means they talk and make sounds based on the dialect of a particular geographic location.

Some popular species of Amazon parrots are blue-fronted Amazon, Yucatan Amazon, white-fronted Amazon, yellow-naped Amazon, and yellow-headed Amazon.

6. Eclectus Parrot

Scientific Name: Eclectus roratus

Eclectus Parrots are another bird that can talk. They are native to the Maluku Islands and enjoy interacting with their human companions.

Male and female Eclectus Parrots have different colouration. Males can be identified by their bright green feathers, while females have vivid red and blue feathers.

Eclectus Parrots are quite easy to train since they can easily pick up various words and phrases, and they are less noisy compared to other parrots.

In the wild, their diet consists of fruits, unripe nuts, flower and leaf buds, and seeds.

7. Cockatoo

Scientific Name: Cacatuidae

Another bird that is known to talk and mimic sounds is the Cockatoos. These parrot species are native to Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and some Pacific regions.

Cockatoos are less colourful than other parrots, with their feathers being mainly white, grey, or black. They can have some colouration in the crest, cheeks, or tail.

They are intelligent birds that love to play around and mimic words and sounds. Especially sounds of other pets like cats and dogs.

Cockatoos form strong bonds with their owners and often become very attached and loving.

8. Hill Myna

Scientific Name: Gracula religiosa

Hill Myna is another bird that falls under the category of talking birds. Hill Mynas are also known as the common hill myna or myna bird.

These birds can learn up to 100 different words and short phrases. They can replicate the exact tone and pitch in the voice of humans.

Hill Mynas mostly have black feathers with bright orange-yellow patches of skin on the side of their heads and nape.

Mynas are found in hilly regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia. In the wild, hill mynas make loud, shrill whistles followed by other calls. This feature is used to communicate with their flock.

They can reproduce many sounds they hear often, particularly human voices and whistles, with accuracy and clarity.

9. Cockatiel

Scientific Name: Nymphicus hollandicus

The Cockatiel bird is also known as weero (weiro) or quarrion. This bird is quite similar to the cockatoo in behaviour and talking ability.

They can be taught to sing specific melodies, which can be wonderful, especially when singing together. Cockatiels can also repeat common sounds from alarm clocks, phones, or other birds.

Cockatiels are native to Australia and exist in wetlands, scrublands, and bushlands. They have a coloured crest on their head and long tail feathers that are roughly half of their total length.

Male cockatiels learn more speech than females. This can be over 250 words and phrases, including songs.

10. Macaw

Family: Psittacidae

Macaws are one of the most popular talking parrots in the world. They are identified by their colourful feathers, and each of the 18 different species has distinct colouration.

Unlike other birds on this list, both male and female macaws look alike. They exist throughout grasslands and rainforests in South America.

Macaws are large birds that can mimic human voices and sounds. Some of the Macaw species are the blue-and-yellow macaw, red-fronted macaw, blue-throated macaw, blue-winged macaw, golden-collared macaw, red-shouldered macaw, and hyacinth macaw.

Conclusion

Talking birds are heartwarming creatures that are amazing to watch. In this article, we have seen the top 10 birds that can talk like humans.

It is also important to note that not all talking birds are parrots. Although many people confuse all talking birds to be parrots. Other wild birds, like ravens, can learn to mimic human speech.

In summary, the top 10 talking birds are African Grey Parrot, Budgerigar, Indian Ringneck Parakeet, Quaker Parrot, Amazon Parrot, Eclectus Parrot, Cockatoo, Hill Myna, Cockatiel, and Macaw.

FAQs

What makes a bird able to talk?

Birds can talk with the help of a vocal organ called a syrinx. Unlike humans, talking birds have no vocal cords. They produce sounds with their syrinx and the positioning of their tongue.

Can all parrots talk?

No, not all parrots can talk. Although most parrots can mimic human speech, not all will be able to learn to talk.

What is the most realistic talking bird?

The realistic talking bird is the African grey parrot. This bird is the most intelligent talking bird in the world because they can learn a large vocabulary of words.

Are talking birds a good pet for beginners?

Some talking birds, like Budgies and Cockatiels, are great for beginners. However, larger parrots may require more time, attention, and experience.

Can birds understand what they are saying?

Birds understanding of the words and phrases they mimic is limited. However, some birds, like African Greys, can use words in context, showing a higher level of comprehension.