Good Words for Birds to Learn

Some animal lovers can only dream of their beloved pets communicating to them in clear and understandable words. Fortunately for owners of pet birds, the exciting concept is often a reality, whether they have monk parakeets or Indian ringnecks in their lives. Talking is a pastime for many birdies.

  1. Keep Things Basic

    • If you want to warm your bird up to the idea of talking, keep your choice in vocabulary basic and easy. Don't shock the poor thing with anything lengthy and complicated. Opt for brief words and phrases that are easy to pronounce -- think "hello, "good," "hi," "thank you" and "good night." Another good word to teach your bird is his name. If your pet is named Max, for example, you may want to teach him to say "I'm Max." The more you say a word, the easier and quicker it will likely absorb into your pet's brain. Start with words that are made up of no more than three syllables.

    Pointing Things Out

    • Apart from teaching your bird standard everyday phrases, it may be practical to point out things to him that are frequently in his field of vision. If he sees your pug walking into his room, you can point him out by saying his name. If you are offering your bird a small piece of fruit or veggies as an occasional treat, you may want to point out what it's called, whether cranberries, carrots or pears. Maybe even mix in words like "door" and "table," for instance. It also may be beneficial to focus on items that are visually striking -- say lemons.

    Copycats

    • The word "copycat" has "cat" in it, but perhaps "copybird" may be more accurate. Some birds develop preferences for talking not by starting out hearing words, but by emulating what they hear in their everyday lives -- think buzzing cell phones, vacuum cleaners and kitchen blenders. Copying the sounds of daily life can be a strong stepping stone for bringing out the chatty and talkative sides of birds. If your cell phone goes off in front of your bird and you emulate its ringer, he may just follow suit.

    Vocal Tone

    • Outside of the actual words you teach your bird, the way you speak also is important. Get your bird fascinated by talking by saying words slowly in an upbeat and clear vocal manner. If you talk in a monotone, bored and subdued way, you may not grab your bird's attention as much. Remember, however, that although many birds do talk readily, some do not. Do not force things. If your bird wants to talk, he'll talk, so relax, and if you're lucky, enjoy the experience.