How Do Parrots Talk?

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is Madeline Franco, and we're here to talk about birds. Specifically, in this segment, we're going to talk about talking birds. Why do they talk, and do all of them talk? and if they don't talk, why not? Birds talk, from the standpoint of their physiology, by manipulating air across their air sacs, and in their lungs, from their lungs, and because a bird has to be light enough to fly, and it also has to expend a lot of air, to support the energy needed for flight. Birds have been blessed with a number of air sacs, and that helps them have an extra supply of air in their bodies, at all times. They have not a voice box, but they have a syrinx, which is their form of a, it's something that they can vibrate. Birds that talk, learn how to manipulate this, and how to vibrate it in certain ways. They can very often talk in different voices. They just learn, particularly an African Grey, can speak very often in the voice of the person who has trained them, to say whatever it is, specifically, that they're saying. Not all birds talk, and among those of us who love them dearly, whether or not they talk, makes no difference in their quality as a pet. However, if you're wanting to teach your bird to talk, the way to do it, is to speak to him often. Say words and phrases that he perks up to, and is alert to, and seems to enjoy. Birds generally will talk only when they're happy, parrots that is, pet parrots, only when they're happy, and when they're looking for attention, and they know that by getting attention, it will be a positive experience. Birds will talk and imitate household noises. I have a couple of birds who do a dead ringer cell phone. I actually had to change the ring on my cell phone, because I was running and picking it up, when she was doing that. She's also a very good imitation of a microwave signal, and a backup signal. We had construction in the area for a long time,and she's able to do the beep, beep, beep, sounding just like the truck, so by talking, we mean making these noises. They have little repertoires, so again, if you're wanting to have your bird learn to talk, expose it to sights and sounds, that stimulate it."