Which Bird Breeds Can Learn to Talk?

Most of the birds that can learn to talk are in the parrot family. Parrots seem to have the motor and cognitive skills necessary for mimicking human speech. However, there are other species of bird, such as the Mynah bird, that can also learn to talk.

  1. African Greys

    • African Greys are widely considered to be the best talkers. Even without training, they listen to human speech and learn to mimic it, becoming prolific chatterboxes. They also have the most extensive vocabulary of all the talking birds.

    Yellow-Naped Amazons

    • Yellow-Naped Amazons can also learn to talk and are considered quick learners. Like African Greys, they can pick up an extensive vocabulary and enunciate clearly.

    Cockatoos

    • Cockatoos can also learn to talk but are prone to screeching.

    Macaws

    • Macaws are similar to Cockatoos in terms of their talking ability. They can easily learn to talk, but their vocabulary and mimicry skills are not as developed as those of African Greys.

    Mynah Birds

    • Although they are not part of the parrot family, mynah birds can learn how to talk. They can mimic human speech extensively, even without training.

    Other Talking Breeds

    • In addition to the bird breeds listed above, other talking breeds include Lorikeets, Ringneck Parakeets, Conures, Cockatiels and Eclectus. While these birds can all learn how to talk, their abilities are not as developed as the African Grey.