None of my six budgies have ever talked but JJ the Quaker came with a pretty big vocabulary and has added a few new sounds and phrases. His favorite is “ what are you doing?” and he says it two different ways: one like a question and the other more accusatory. He’ll rattle the cage door and say, “ who’s that at the door?” and then bark like a dog. He says “Aflac, quack, quack” ( his stuffed duck toy is named Aflac) and “meow kitty, kitty!” Also the usual bird stuff: pretty bird, I love you, who’s a good boy? You! Plus lots of sounds: laughs, coughs, nail clippers, whistles, tongue click, the snap of me putting the lid back on my tube of lip balm. Since being here, he’s learned my name, calls the dog, and cries like a baby. If you knock on a wood surface, he’ll Bob his head and say, “ come in!” He also sings a little song but I’ve never been able to figure out what it is. Lots of variations on “ hello!” Mostly a closet talker but he’ll often talk with me. The only thing he’ll do with guests is whisper; just a soft garbled imitation when you whisper at him which I think is adorable.
