Translated by Nick R
You have probably heard parrots talking either in videos or in person, especially those that seem to imitate everything they hear. Here you’ll find out what are the characteristics that allow them to imitate human sounds and words.
Table of Contents
How is it possible that some birds can talk?
Birds, regardless of their species, have a vocal organ called Syrinx that allows them to emit sounds and vary their frequency. This organ is located under the trachea in the respiratory system before reaching the lungs of birds, therein lies the secret that allows birds to “talk”.
Yet, to understand how some birds can express themselves with the human language we must understand our own sound organ called the larynx. In it, the voice is produced through the vibration of the air passing through the vocal cords, but the secret for us to express in words resides in the mouth, where the sound emitted is modified with the movements of the tongue and mouth, which complicates our way of communicating.
Now, how is it possible that birds can talk without having mouths, the answer is found in the combination that some birds like parrots (Psittaciformes) use:
- The syrinx.
- The esophagus cuts the air passage and is able to express some words.
- The tongue is able to vocalize by moving it back and forth.
Why do they learn some words?
In the case of parrots, who have learned best to imitate human language, it is due to the wild instinct of belonging and coexisting socially in large flocks, since communication through songs or chirps between one and another can be very different, which is important to help each other in situations such as:
- Alerting of a predator
- Defending the territory
- Communicating with each other
Domestic parrots replicate the same behavior of belonging to the environment in which its owner is, as it is a social bird, the owners are the closest figure from which they can learn some words, which they will memorize in an associative way.
How do some birds learn to speak?
Learning new words in some birds may be due to how often the word is repeated in their environment. An example for domestic parrots is when they greet.
Can birds understand what they say?
Although a part of the brain of talking birds is adapted to learning words, this does not make them able to understand the complexity of language and therefore be able to hold a conversation with a person, however, they are able to associate words to some action or object, so it is likely that a bird learns to say “Hello!” when someone comes home or “How are you?” without really knowing what it means but being a way to express what he has learned.
Did you know…
The African parrot Alex, who was raised by psychologist Irene Pepperberg, came to learn to distinguish about 100 objects, of which he could identify their shapes through their corners (3 to 6 corners), colors, and numbers greater than 8.
Types of talking birds
Now you will learn about some orders of birds that have been observed to have the ability to talk.
Psittaciformes
They are best known as “parrots” who are actually part of a whole order that includes different species that share certain characteristics among them, which are:
- Curved beaks with a movable upper jaw.
- Zygodactyl legs have two toes forward and two backward, allowing them a better grip.
- They are social birds and mostly monogamous.
- They have different sizes, some larger than others.
Of this order some of the birds that can learn to speak are:
African grey parrot or yaco
Scientifically called Psittacus erithacus, it is considered one of the most intelligent birds of all, it is of the same species as the Alex parrot and can live up to 60 years.
| Habitat | Savannas or meadows; forests; scrub forest |
| Average Weight | 407 g |
| Average Size | 33 cm |
| Wingspan | 18 to 20 cm |
| Life expectancy | 40 to 60 years |
African grey parrot data table
Macaw
There are several species of Macaws, although the one that is said to be most willing to talk about is the bluish-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna).
This species is quite calm and not as talkative as its relatives the Amazon parrots (amazona amazonica).
| Habitat | Rain forest |
| Average Weight | 900 to 1800 g |
| Average Size | 81.1 to 91 cm |
| Wingspan | 104 to 114 cm |
| Life expectancy | 30 to 35 years |
Data table Blue-and-yellow macaw
Amazon Parrot
Its scientific name is Amazona amazonica and it is sometimes confused with Amazona aestiva. This parrot is native to South America and is one of the most common pet parrots.
| Habitat | Savannas or meadows; forests; scrub forest |
| Average Weight | 400 to 430 g |
| Average Size | 33 to 38 cm |
| Life expectancy | 40 to 60 years |
Amazona amazonica parrot data table
Sulphur-crested cockatoo
It’s part of the cockatoo family (Cacatuidae) and is quite talkative and unruly.
| Habitat | Savannas or meadows; forests. |
| Average Weight | 800 g |
| Average Size | 50 cm |
| Wingspan | 103 cm |
| Life expectancy | 40 to 65 years |
Data table Sulphur-crested cockatoo.
Argentine Parakeet or Monk Parakeet
Scientifically called Myiopsitta monachus, it’s, together with the cockatiel, one of the smallest on the list. It has the ability to imitate some sounds and words, although with a little more difficult than others.
| Habitat | Savannas or meadows; forests. |
| Average Weight | 800 g |
| Average Size | 50 cm |
| Wingspan | 103 cm |
| Life expectancy | 40 to 65 years |
Data table Argentine Parakeet
Passeriformes
The passerine birds belong to the same order as half of the world’s birds. Their main feature is their ability to sing and their legs with 3 toes forward and one backward.
Common hill myna
Also called miná religioso, it is one of the few passerine birds that have the ability to imitate some words, and the tone in which they do it is something serious.
| Habitat | Forests and Rainforests |
| Average Size | 27 to 30 cm |
| Life expectancy | 10 to 14 years |
Data table for Gracula bird
James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Raven
The Corvus corax or common raven is another of the most intelligent birds in existence, which is reflected in its ability to imitate sounds and in some cases human words.
| Habitat | Tundra, taiga, desert, savanna, mountains, forests, and scrub forests. |
| Average Weight | 689 to 1600 g |
| Average Size | 69 cm |
| Life expectancy | 13 to 44 years |
Raven data table
Conclusions
Birds have many skills that we can hardly realize.
Remember that if you want to adopt one you must do it responsibly and always be realistic that some of them will not be able to develop the learning of words that you would like.
