Don't make it harder than it has to be...
You're sitting on the couch. Your bird is perched on its perch or on your shoulder. You talk to it as you go about your day. "Good morning." "Coming with me?" "You're so beautiful." Sometimes it hums back, sometimes it just looks. And somewhere, deep inside, you wonder: will it ever talk back? Or am I doing something wrong?
That feeling is familiar. Especially when you look online and see people everywhere with parrots saying "hello honey," or even joking around. It can make you feel like you're behind. That your bird can't do it, or that you're missing out. But you know what? It doesn't start with tricks or special techniques. It starts with seeing who your bird is, what it can do, and how you handle that calmly.
Not every parrot talks easily
Let's get something out of the way first. Not every parrot talks easily. And that's okay.
African African Greys are known for their sharp memories and clear pronunciation. Amazon parrots are cheerful, expressive, and often whistle with a humorous tone.
Eclectus parrots are excellent imitators, but females often talk less.
Macaws speak less clearly, but they make up for it with their enthusiasm.
Cockatoos and parakeets? They can sometimes be surprising, but they're usually not great talkers.
So, if you have a bird that isn't a top talker, that doesn't mean it's not smart or sweet. It just means you need to adjust your expectations.
How does learning to talk actually work?
Many people think a parrot simply "repeats" words. But it actually starts with sounds.
First, you hear clicks, beeps, and strange hums.
Then comes a distinctive sound, like "huh" or "yeah."
And only then does a word emerge. Sometimes by accident, sometimes because you've said it a hundred times.
What's important here: repetition and emotion. Your bird primarily hears what you say often and what you're emotionally attached to. If you say "yummy food" in a cheerful voice when you fill their bowl, they'll notice that more quickly than a dry "come on." This is how all my birds actually say goodnight (more or less clearly) without me "teaching" them... simply because I say it out of habit when I leave.
Practical tips that work
You don't have to spend entire afternoons practicing. Quite the opposite. Small, consistent moments work best.
- Choose a few words that resonate with you. For example: hello, yummy, come on, bye.
- Always use the same word at the same time. "Hello" when you come in, "yummy" when you feed, "bye" when you leave.
- Don't reward with food, but with attention. Smile, nod, say "good boy." That's often much more powerful.
- Practice when your bird is alert. Not when they've just eaten or want to sleep.
Be careful what he picks up
Parrots learn what is often repeated... with feeling. This means that even negative words stick. A parrot that often hears "stop it," or worse, can suddenly start repeating it. And then it's difficult to reverse.
The only way to stop that? Ignore it completely. No laughing, no angry looks, nothing at all. That way it slowly fades away.
The moment everything changes
I recently spoke to a woman with a gray parrot. She told me that she often said to him, "There comes Roos." She didn't say it as a practice, but simply, as part of their day. One morning, while she was making coffee, she suddenly heard a soft "rrrroozs" behind her.
She told me that she fell silent. That she felt tears welling up. Not because he had said a word, but because it felt like an answer. Like a connection she had never consciously felt before.
That's what it's all about, ultimately. Not about tricks or impressing others, but about connection. About small moments that feel big.
Frequently asked questions from owners
How long does it take for my parrot to talk? Sometimes a few weeks, sometimes months. It varies from bird to bird.
Can I unlearn bad words? Only by ignoring them. Reacting often makes it worse.
Can all parrots talk? No. Some species simply aren't built for it, and that's okay.
Can I force my bird to talk? No. Stress blocks learning. Love and patience are the only way.
What can you do today?
Choose one word today that you like and that resonates with you. Start using it slowly, at a fixed time. Notice how they look, listen, and perhaps even make sounds. Respond to them with warmth, not pressure.
Choose words with clear sounds like rrr, tttt, or kkk. That makes it easier, and... you can enjoy them, step by step.
Love, Malenthe
