About the Different Types of Talking Parrots

There are quite a few different breeds of parrots that talk. Some talk better than others do, and some have the ability to talk but choose not to. When you are purchasing a parrot, do plenty of research on the care of each breed. Do not purchase a parrot just because it has the ability to talk, because you may end up with a parrot that chooses not to talk.

  1. Features

    • Parrots can be quite loud at times--not only talking but also yelling and screaming. Most parrots are social birds; they live in a flock. Some keep the same mate year after year. They can live from 20 to 80 years, so if you choose a parrot as a pet, be prepared to take care of it for many years.

    Misconceptions

    • Not all parrots are great talkers. Many people think cockatoos are wonderful talkers, but most of them say only a few words. There are other parrots that are much better talkers, such as the African gray.
      Birds do not eat only seeds. Hookbills need a diet that consists of fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts. Some of them will even eat chicken; they like to chew the bones.

    Considerations

    • A parrot is not an inexpensive pet. Once you put out the purchase price for a parrot, you need to find an avian-certified veterinarian. Parrots must have yearly checkups. If anything should go wrong with the parrot, only an avian-certified veterinarian should see the bird.
      Parrots are also chewers, especially the cockatoo species. They cannot be left out of their cage unsupervised, because you will find pieces of walls, furniture or window sills missing. They also like to chew anything shiny.
      Parrots need at least 3 to 4 hours of interaction every day, or else they may get bored and pluck their feathers. Use 1 to 2 of those hours for direct hands-on interaction.

    Benefits

    • Many parrots have the intelligence of a gifted 5-year-old child. They are able to talk to you and understand you, to a certain extent. They make an excellent pet if you have the time to spend with them. They can be quite entertaining with their antics. Certain parrots, such as umbrella cockatoos, are great for people who want a pet that hangs around them all the time. They have been coined the "Velcro bird" since they are very social and like to be around their flock--even if it is human--constantly.

    Identification

    • There are many types of talking birds--too many to list and describe here, but they include the umbrella cockatoo, African gray, Goffin's cockatoo, sulphur-crested cockatoo and rose-breasted cockatoo.