How Do Parrots Talk Like Humans?

If you’re a pet owner and have a parrot in your home or you have seen a parrot talking like humans somewhere over the internet. But how do parrots talk like humans? Can parrots learn the language over time? And what are the things an owner should do to teach their parrots to talk? These are some of the questions which are all over the internet as parrot owners are eager to see their parrots start talking. 

However, we have to understand the fact that birds cannot understand human languages and thus they do not ‘talk’ but as a fact of the matter, parrots are some of those birds that try to imitate other voices around them. In the article ahead we are going to examine the things which parrot owners should do to teach their parrots how to talk. We will also list some of the best parrot breeds which are experts in talking like humans and imitating our voices. 

Do Parrots Understand Human Language?

It is one of the most interesting observations about the parrots that they can speak in the tongue of their users. However, we should also understand the fact that they cannot understand the dynamics of a language.

Most parrot owners repeat certain words to their parrots to teach them these words. Some of the words parrot pick them automatically and relate them to the context of the situation. This might seem like they can understand that communication through a particular language is not right as it might look. Thus, if your parrot is speaking something that is contextually right, it does not mean that it can eavesdrop on your conversations. 

Why can parrots talk like humans?

Most of the parrots that we know of are inhabited to speaking in their owner’s language and that must have made you wonder how parrots talk like humans. Parrots are some of the most intelligent birds in the world that are also gifted with unique vocals.

All of them together are used by parrots to get together in the wild with their flock. This not only ensures the regular availability of food but also provides them with the required security. 

These are some of the reasons that they try to imitate the voice within their flock but when they are living with humans, they are their flock. This tendency and a boring caged life make them pick up these words apart from regular training from their owners. 

How can parrots talk and not other animals?

Parrots can talk like humans and that is a well-known fact around the world but why other animals cannot talk like humans? This is one of those questions that must have come to your mind while you are reading about talking parrots. However, this is not true completely. Some of the other birds apart from parrots have the capacity to mold parrots’ vocals and create human voices. 

Birds such as Starlings, Mayna Birds, Mockingbirds, and many others have the capacity to mimic not only humans but all other kinds of voices around them. But it is true that animals are not able to mimic human voices.

However, it should also be noted that some whales such as beluga and Orca are observed while trying to imitate the human voices. So things are not simple as it seems but it is undoubtedly true that when it comes to mimicking the human voice nobody does better than the parrots. 

How Do Parrots Vocalize Human Speech?

We have to understand the fact that parrots are different than human beings. They might be smaller in their size but parrots have a vastly different voice box than that humans. They have the ability to recreate not only human voices but also multiple other kinds of voices as well.

They can control their speech in a much better way than any other birds and can also control their voice tract to change the modulation of their voice. Apart from that, parrots are some of the smartest birds and that is why they can remember how to reproduce a particular sound. 

They also try to create a contextual meaning for that sound and use it accordingly which appears to us as the parrots are talking to us directly. 

What Are The Best Talking Parrots?

After reading all about the reasons and functioning of a parrot’s voice, now is the time to understand which are some of the parrots that are ideal when it comes to imitating human voices.

These are some of the best talking parrots which you can take as your pet and train to speak in the human tongue. We will also share some of the details which are related to these birds to give you an idea about which bird would be a perfect choice for you. 

• African Grey Parrots

1. One of the best when it comes to mimicking the human voice with great adaptability
2. Can even pick up numbers and names of the people after enough training
3. African Grey parrots are some of the biggest parrots in size and thus have a much deeper voice

• Budgerigars

1. Budgerigars are common parrot pets that can be trained to speak in human voices effectively
2. Budgerigars can remember even long phrases and thus can be called the most talkative
3. Does not cost too much to have them and they do not require high maintenance

• Quaker Parrot

1. Quacker parrots are small but very talkative when it repeating their owners
2. Quacker parrots are also fun-loving by nature and have the tendency to stay close to their owners
3. Have a sharp voice and can learn tens of words after a sufficient amount of regular training. 

• Amazon parrot

1. This amazing breed is known to be capable of remembering more than 100 words in their lifetime including the words from completely different languages
2. Amazon parrots have a clear sound and can be understood by anyone
3. Amazon parrots require special care from their parents and are habitual to living in the equatorial regions. 

• Macaw

1. Macaw is another big breed in the segment which is talkative by nature
2. They are not too tough to train and can pick up words from a family of their owners
3. Need special attention while being trained for a perfect speech as they can be really big

Final Thoughts

Finally, how do parrots talk like humans? Parrots are some of the most delicate but intelligent birds on earth. With their intelligence, they have developed these sharp instincts to speak like humans and train their vocal cords to be precise in their voice. The breeds mentioned above are excellent for those people who are willing to buy a parrot that is not too hard to train and can adapt to speech training as quickly as possible. 

However, we also should know that parrots are also mere birds and they too expect empathy from their owners. If your only drive is to buy a parrot that can talk like humans then you should not do it as being a pet owner require a long-term commitment.

But if you are someone who genuinely loves parrots and appreciates their intelligence then you can surely keep them as your pet and train them accordingly to become expert talkers.