Do your birds talk?

[rheashard2]

The strangest noises my budgies make are by the male English ones. They make weird croaking sounds. Budgies seem to throw their voices, too, because I often can't tell where their sounds are coming from and they barely open their beaks so I have to watch their throats move.

I'd like to see(hear) that! I've read birds are natural ventriloquists. They make sounds naturally the way a human ventriloquist works to master. I bet it can be confusing to locate sound source. (Knocking on my head) I hope a certain CAG doesn't take an intrest.

 

[rheashard2]

I thought it was normal for parrots to give signiture sounds (sometimes embarrassing) to their flock members. The cutest is the sound Nameliss assigned for after vet visit. Sighing...ooh boy ...sighing...whooo...oooh boy and more sighing. Isn't it normal for signature sounds, words etc?

 

[nkrbkr]

I thought it was normal for parrots to give signiture sounds (sometimes embarrassing) to their flock members. The cutest is the sound Nameliss assigned for after vet visit. Sighing...ooh boy ...sighing...whooo...oooh boy and more sighing. Isn't it normal for signature sounds, words etc?

I’d be interested to know this as well. Ava seems to make her “begging” sound mostly with me along with baby bird head bobbing.

 

[cnyguy]

A few times when I wasn't in the room it sounded like Nelson was saying "baby bird," something I never said to him. This afternoon when he was chattering he was saying "pretty baby," clear enough to understand. Lots of "pretty birds" and "pretty, pretty, prettys" too.

I've written before about the talking ability of my three previous parrots. Scooter the CAG had the clearest speaking voice and spoke in several different voices, including mine. She didn't have a big vocabulary and preferred imitating sounds. George the YCA didn't have a huge vocabulary either, but he did know several words and phrases and he liked to mix them up. His rearranged phrases included "Pretty cracker," and "Do you like bird?" which was his variation on "do you like that?" He could say his name and he called everyone George.

QP Ralph had the biggest vocabulary of the three. He wasn't really talkative, but he knew and understood lots of words and mostly used them in context.

Of course Nelson is still learning and it should be interesting to find out what new words and phrases he comes up with.

 

[AprilRobin]

If I carefully open the door of the bird room at night, after their bed time/"lights out", I can hear Sprite mumbling gibberish with scattered mentions of "vegetables, vegetables".

 

[bug_n_flock]

Freedom is a talker, Alex is a closet talker.

Alex says hello, and AFAIK, has only said it twice in his entire 23 years of life. He also coughs, laughs, and whistles

Some of my favorites with freedom is she belches, farts, laughs like an evil scientist, whispers "hi" in the creepiest way possible

I used to have a budgie with the most colorful and creepy, horrible vocabulary. I miss him so much. Fatty Dingdong was his name. One of my favorites from him was he'd puff up, shake off in that cute greeting birds do and then shout happily at me in greeting, "hey asshole!" When I'd enter the room

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Yvons (CAG) is mimicking some stuff from his previous home(s). He's been starting to say 'eeeeeviiiiillllll'. Vortex (WC Pionus) is starting to tell me 'night night' if it's past her bedtime and I'm still up. It's garbled and cute, but she's telling me off, LOL!

 

[rheashard2]

It's amusing that our avain companions develope routines. Routines that they can alter at will. Routines that they don't want us to change.

 

[Jcas]

The strangest noises my budgies make are by the male English ones. They make weird croaking sounds. Budgies seem to throw their voices, too, because I often can't tell where their sounds are coming from and they barely open their beaks so I have to watch their throats move.

Yes, those budgie chirps echo all over the house!

 

[Jcas]

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.

 

[chris-md]

My eclectus is definitely a talker and has a decent vocabulary of 50+ words, phrases, and whistles.

Some highlights:
-Myriad different greetings (hi, hello, hey parkerdoodles to name a few)
-he sings a bit of the guys and dolls song I Love You a Bushel and a Peck
-I love you
-bubba
-bear (nickname for our dearly departed dog)
- holy “shiitake”
-what are you doing
-ok
-different variations of his name
-a laugh that sounds just like me

To name a few.

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

Of my three so far the Caique is the only talker. He says the following:
- Raptor! Which is his name
- step up
- thank you (when I hand him a treat item he really likes)
- who’s a good boy
- mimics water pouring sounds if I turn on a faucet or dispense water from the refrigerator.
My CAG and IRN are less than 2 years old so I guess they could start talking anytime now. My CAG is making new sounds everyday and recently started cat call whistling after seeing it on a cartoon I left on the TV. She also mimics most of my IRN sounds with precision accuracy.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

This morning my husnlbabd told me that my budgies Rocky and Be as⁸

 

[rheashard2]

I've tried to picture my house ruled, excuse me, over seen by budgies. I'm still undecided.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Rest of message:
This morning my husband John said Rocky and Beau are talking. I asked what they said. He said "Chirp". I had showed him Otto's talking videos.

John had a nightmare last night 30 minutes after falling asleep that we were in a weird car accident and our favorite budgies Rocky and Beau were in the truck with us. They flew away and a mean horse was chasing us. He woke up in a panic saying "where are the budgies?" I told him they were sleeping in their cages but he had to go check to make sure Rocky snd Beau were okay before he went back to sleep. John really loves our budgies.

Nightmares and dreams about our birds would make a good new thread.

 

[bug_n_flock]

A "mean horse" was chasing you? Sounds like a scary dream to experience don't get me wrong, but pardon if I take a quick giggle.

I've had some awful dreams about my fids before. One of the worst was about a lovebird I had at the time. I dreamt she flew off my shoulder and landed in the street ... It didn't end well from there.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I've tried to picture my house ruled, excuse me, over seen by budgies. I'm still undecided.

They are always watching us! When I'm at the kitchen sink they perch on the edge of the cabinets right overhead and watch what I'm doing to see if they want some of what I'm making. If so, they fly down to the counter to "help", steal food or demand baths. As soon as food hits the table they fly over and start helping themselves. I just took this photo of Rocky (front) and Beau as I was typing, trying to enjoy my roast beef wrap. They inspect the appliances, especially the dishwasher and fridge. They seem to know to stay away from the stove.
Rocky owns the place. She sits on John's phone in its stand on the table and watches him watch videos or surf the web. He shares his Popsicles with her. She's one very special budgie.
Beau is her faithful manservant. He follows her around like a puppy dog, feeding and grooming her and letting her take the lead. She gets first bites of everything. For the past six months, though, he's been getting lucky, too!