Talking bird
Talking birds are birds that can mimic human speech. Talking birds have varying degrees of intelligence and communication capabilities: some, like the crow, a highly intelligent bird, are able to mimic only a few words and phrases, while some budgerigars have been observed to have a vocabulary of almost two thousand words. The Hill Myna is a commonly kept pet, well known for its talking ability – while its relative, the European Starling, is also adept at mimicry.[1] Wild cockatoos in Australia have been reported to have learned human speech from ex-captive birds that have integrated into the flock.[2]
Parakeets / Budgerigars
Common parakeets are a popular talking bird species, because of their large vocabularies and ease of care.[3]
Puck
In 1995 a budgerigar named Puck was credited by Guinness World Records as having the largest vocabulary of any bird, at 1,728 words.[4]
Amazon parrots
Many species of Amazona (particularly the yellow-head variety)[citation needed] are outstanding talkers. Yellow-napes, Double Yellow-headed, Yellow-crowned, and Panama Amazons are highly regarded as talking parrots.[citation needed] They tend to relate sounds to relationships more than the African Grey Parrots, and therefore outperform the African Grey Parrots in more social environments.
African Grey Parrots
The African Grey Parrots are particularly noted for their cognitive abilities. Some of the most notable African Grey Parrots are Alex, Prudle, N'kisi, Einstein and Bibi.
Alex
Alex had a vocabulary of about 100 words,[5] but he was one of the most famous birds because of the publicity and popularity of his potential cognitive abilities. He was capable of identifying colors and shapes, and understood abstract concepts such as "bigger", "smaller", "same", and "different".[6] In 2005, World Science reported that Alex possibly understood the concept of zero.[7] Alex died on September 6, 2007.
Prudle
Prudle held the Guinness world record for bird with biggest vocabulary for many years with a documented vocabulary of 800 words.[8]
N'kisi
N'kisi is noted for his impressive English usage skills and other abilities. As of January 2004, he had a documented vocabulary of 950 words and shows signs of a sense of humor. N'kisi is believed to be one of the most advanced users of human language in the animal world.[9]
Einstein
Einstein appeared on many television shows and became famous for her ability to recreate sounds as well as voice. Video clips show her making the sound of a laser beam and an evil laugh. She has been trained by Stephanie White.[10]
Bibi
Bibi, a Congo African Grey Parrot, is best known for her ability to use greetings from 20 different languages,[11] earning her the nickname "The Polyglot Parrot." At only three years of age, Bibi has already developed a vocabulary of about 300 words, and she understands the concepts of color and shape.
Other parrots
Most parrot species are capable of imitating human words. Many can learn to use phrases in context; they can also be trained to imitate any words. Monk Parakeets (also known as Quaker parrots) are also reputed to be skilled talkers.
Hill Mynas
Hill Mynas are renowned for their ability to mimic the human voice. Many have claimed that the Hill Myna is the best talking bird and the best mimic in the world.[12]
See also
- Lyrebird, ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from its environment
- Mockingbird, ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from its environment
- Passerine
- Songbird
References
- ^ "Talking Starlings". Starling Talk. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ Price, Hannah (September 15, 2011). "Birds of a feather talk together". Australian Geographic.
- ^ Souza, Anton (January 24, 2013). "Top 3 Best Talking Parrots". Bird Channel.com.
- ^ Claire Folkard (ed.). Guinness World Records 2004. Guinness World Records Limited. p. 54. ISBN 0-85112-180-2.
- ^ Pepperberg, Irene Maxine (2000). The Alex Studies: Cognitive and Communicative Abilities of Grey Parrots. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674000513.
- ^ Smith, Dinitia (October 9, 1999). "A Thinking Bird or Just Another Birdbrain?". The New York Times.
- ^ "Researchers explore whether parrot has concept of zero". World Science. July 2, 2005.
- ^ "African Grey Parrot Species Profile". Pet Education.com. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ Morelle, Rebecca (May 1, 2007). "Animal world's communication kings". BBC News.
- ^ " Einstein the Parrot". TED. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ "Parrot Speaks 20 Languages". YouTube. January 17, 2008.
- ^ Butterfield, Kathy. "Hill Mynah". Mynah Bird Home Page. Retrieved Maay 26, 2013.
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Further reading
- Smith, Fran (2008). Friendly Feathers: Life with Pierre, an African Grey Parrot. Frances L. Smith. ISBN 978-0-615-22232-5
External links
- Recordings of an African Grey parrot talking