Does your parrot talk?

[hollyherard]

I have a question. My Indian Ringneck speaks very well, but he only does it when he thinks I am not listening, can anyone tell me why? and if there is a way to get him to vocalize while I'm in the room?

thanks

[Michael]

Welcome to the club.

[lzver]

That's not very uncommon. Our Sennie chats up a storm when he thinks no one is listening. Don't know if he's practicing, but that's when we really hear the new things he can say. I love lying in the other room and listen to him chat away to himself. It's hard not to laugh at him

Our Red-Bellied on the other hand is a little show off and loves to have an audience ... from what I've read that is a common thing for Red-Bellied's.

Laura

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Scooter likes to say "pretty bird" to us, especially when he wants our attention. However, with other vocalizations, he seems to most prefer to wander to the back of my keyboard drawer and practice talking into the corner! My husband's late mother's late amazon liked to do his "talking" into a bell.

[oknuma]

batman isnt a talker ( rosella's generally arent ) but she can whistle up a tune and a half

I havnt really come across anyone who thinks she is less of a bird due to her non verbal communication.

[lzver]

Okuma,

I don't think anyone on this board would say batman is less of a bird because he doesn't do verbal communication. I'm sure he has is own way of communicating with you that is unique to him. I wish everyone would accept their birds for who they are and not expect things from them.

Laura

[Suzzique]

With new people around Alex wont talk while they are in the room. If they move into the kitchen even if he can see them he will then talk. With people he knows he will talk up a storm weather they are in the room or not. Martini on the other hand will not talk ever if someone is in the room. He will chirp, whistle ect but talking is only when he is by himself. Alex even has to be out of the room for him to talk. Once in a blue moon he will tell my daughter Hi when she gets home and picks him up.

While the ability to talk was a big factor in getting a grey over other birds. We would not have loved Alex any less if he had turned out to be one of the few that never talk. He has so much personality he would never have to say a word and I would still think he was the best bird ever. He was almost 2 before he said his first word. Much later than most.

I knew before I got Martini that senegals are not big talkers. So was never worried about weather or not he did talk.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I totally agree that pet parrots don't need to talk to be wonderful friends!

That said, there is an African grey that lives at one of the local pet stores. The first time I was in there, I didn't even notice him, but after I went down one of the aisles I was aware of someone talking to me. So I popped back out and said "Hello", and the bird just looked at me. As soon as I went around the corner again, the wolf-whistles started.

Last time I was in there, I went right up to his cage and said hello and talked to him for a few minutes. Nothing. I disappeared around the corner again and behind me I hear "So what! So what! So what!".

[Suzzique]

ROFL that so sounds like something a grey would do!

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Yeah, I can see where greys could be great fun to have around. A colleague of mine had one who used to call his name when he wanted attention. He would call and call and when his owner came into the room he'd say "Good Boy!".