Why Do Parrots Talk?
Walk into the home of a parrot owner and you will likely hear a raucous "hello" from the colorful bird. Just what is it about parrots that causes them to talk? A talking bird is a great conversation starter, but before you spend the money on an exotic parrot, make sure you understand why a parrot talks.
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Function
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Parrots "talk" as a form of communication. In the wild, a young parent will learn to vocalize by mimicking the sounds its parents and the other birds in its social group make. When you bring a young parrot into your home where it is surrounded by human communication, it will view the humans in the home as its social circle and will naturally try to communicate with those humans by mimicking the sounds it hears.
Types
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Some species of parrots are more prone to talking than others. For example, male budgies are very likely to learn to talk. However, budgies are not technically parrots. African Grey Parrots are also popular because their vocalizations sound quite human, unlike other talking birds. People are often fooled into thinking there is another human in the room by these birds. Other breeds that can be taught to talk easily include the Amazon Parrot and the Quaker Parrot.
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Significance
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Talking parrots are not actually "talking" in the sense that they are saying words that they understand have a specific meaning. Talking birds have learned that certain vocalizations produce a wanted response, such as a food treat or some positive attention. For example, many parrots learn to call their owner's name because they are rewarded with the owner's presence when they say that word. However, they do not understand that "Steve" means the man that feeds them every day.
Features
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Parrots do not have vocal cords like humans do. Experts believe that the syrinx, a structure in a parrot's throat, is what creates the "talking" sounds. The syrinx houses the medial tympaniform membranes and these control the airflow through the throat. This airflow is responsible for vocalizations. The parrot's unique respiratory system, which has several air sacs, allows it to vary the vibrations of the tympaniform membranes to change the sounds it produces.
Potential
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If you want to have a bird that talks, you should either buy a young bird and keep it by itself in your home, or you should buy a bird that has already learned to talk. Older non-talking birds are difficult to train. To train a young bird to talk or teach an older bird new words, speak to the bird constantly and consistently. Name the items you are placing in its cage, say "hello" every time you come in the room, and repeat commands that you want it to learn, such as "up" when you take it out of the cage.
Warning
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Not all birds that should be able to talk will do so. The only way to guarantee that your parrot will be a talking parrot is to buy one that already talks. Also, your bird will pick up words that you speak with intensity, so if you are prone to using curse words when something bad happens, be prepared to have a bird that curses. Remember, your parrot does not understand the meaning of the word. It simply realizes that you use those words with intense feeling and that makes them fun to the bird.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Nate Brelsford
