If you're thinking about adding a parrot to your family, you might be wondering if it's possible to train it to talk. In many cases, the answer is yes! Although some are much better at it than others, most parrots can learn to imitate some words (or at least simple tunes). It's just a matter of knowing how to teach a parrot to talk.

So, how do you teach a parrot to talk, then? It's actually pretty easy—so easy we can sum up the basics in just two simple steps. Try them for a month or so, and chances are good, your parrot will be chattering away!

What influences parrots' talking abilities?

First off, it's important to emphasize that you should never get a parrot just because of its potential talking skills. All parrots, from the tiny budgie to the majestic macaw, are complex animals that need specialised care and lots of attention, so adopting one is not something to take lightly. Additionally, there's no guarantee whatsoever that your particular bird will ever learn to talk! It's just a nice bonus if it does.

A few factors that influence (though don't guarantee) the likelihood of a parrot learning to speak are:

• Species. Although all parrots are mimics to some degree, there are some that are much likely to be talkative. Check out our post on the top 5 talking parrots if you'd like to find out which species are the champion chatters.
  
• Age. As with most animals, parrots are easier to train when they're still young. That applies to speaking training as well, although it's not impossible for an old bird to learn some new tricks.
• Tameness. If your parrot has been socialising with humans since it was a baby, it is more likely to see them as flock mates. This, in turn, increases the chances of the bird wanting to imitate their voices.
• Sex. In quite a few species, the males are the big talkers, including budgies and ringnecks.
• Individual birds. Some just enjoy talking much more than others.

Tip: Don't forget the most important factor: YOU! This is an exercise in patience for you more than it is an exercise in talking for your parrot.

It may surprise you, but the humble budgerigar is one of the champion talkers in the bird kingdom. A budgie holds the Guinness World Record for largest vocabulary for a bird!

How to teach a parrot to talk in just 2 steps

Parrot talking training is actually really not that complicated. It's a good idea to read our guide on positive reinforcement first; this technique is the cornerstone of parrot training. You'll likely be a lot more successful if you understand and implement it, plus it's a great way to protect and strengthen your bond with your bird. 

If your parrot isn't comfortable being around people yet, you should work on that first. Our birds imitate us because they want to fit in with the flock, so yours needs to learn to view you as a flock member if it's to learn how to speak. However, don't worry if it doesn't want to sit on your hands or anything like that yet - the nice thing about talking training is that birds don't have to be totally tame to pick it up. You can talk through the cage for now, which will also help get your parrot used to you.

Once you've grasped the basics of how training a parrot works, and your bird seems comfortable with your presence, you can get started. 

Step 1: Pick a phrase

For now, let's stick to choosing one or two words, sounds or whistles for your parrot to learn. Preferably something nice and simple: it is a beginner, after all! If your bird seems to enjoy talking training, you can always introduce more complicated phrases at a later stage.

"Hi-hi", "bye-bye", "birdie!" or something else that's short but sweet (like the parrot's own name) should be perfect. 

Tip: Most parrots seem to find whistles easier than words. That's why many a parrot owner has started out by teaching their bird to wolf whistle!

Step 2: Repetition

Repetition, repetition, repetition... hopefully you like the phrase you picked because you're going to be saying it a LOT! Here at Parrot Essentials headquarters, we spend pretty much all day whistling the same tunes and repeating the same words to help our birds pick them up. It works like a charm.

You can also opt for a dedicated talking training session. If it lets you take your parrot out of its cage. Offer some snacks, maybe spend some time playing, and speak to the bird in a clear voice for 10-15 minutes. If it responds with anything that sounds even remotely like your target phrase, shower your bird with praise and give it a treat—positive reinforcement.

Tip: It helps to find a quiet spot without distractions or outside noises for this. Parrots can have a pretty short attention span!

Other than the daily training sessions, just chat with your parrot whenever you're near it. Be sure to use your target phrase plenty, but it doesn't only have to be that. You just want the bird to get totally used to your voice and feel comfortable with it, so tell it about your day as you go about regular feeding and cleaning duties.

Some parrot owners like to record their voices and leave the recording playing for their birds while they're not at home. The usefulness of this is somewhat debated, as it seems that they do respond better to your actual presence, but it's worth a shot!

There's really not much more to it. You want your bird to associate you as well as your voice with fun and treats. If it's comfortable with your presence and sees you as a member of the flock, that's what will hopefully trigger it to want to imitate your voice. There's some discussion about whether they know what they're saying, but many can definitely learn to use their vocabulary in the right context ("hello" when you walk in, for example).

Tip: For some birds, it can help to include some movement. Bob your parrot gently up and down on your hand or even do a little dance yourself. Additionally, some parrots like to serenade specific objects, like their favourite toy or even someone's foot.

Conclusion

Parrot talking training is a double-edged sword, and we recommend everyone who owns one learn how to teach a parrot to talk. It's not just fun to hear your bird imitate you, but it's also just a great way to spend time together. Depending on the species, the result may come out sounding raspy and unclear, but at least you've strengthened your bond with your parrot!