Concise list of parrots with talking ability from most to least?

[Odysseus]

Hey all,

Can I have some help with either a link to a list, to a thread on here that has already discussed this and has a good list or some help from a willing participant to write at least a top five list?

I have tried searching Birdboard.com for the topic but instead keep finding some good one-liners about how their parrots say certain things...but that is not quite all I need. What I am more curious about is a list that ranks parrots in order from most able to learn to speak and least able to learn.

From what I understand that "ability to learn" is all you can expect since certain personalities simply won't do it. So, if anyone out there knows of such a list or is willing to offer one, please let me know.

P.S. Also instead of saying "Conures can learn to talk" please let me know if Sun Conures or Blue-crowned Conures are better learners. Thanks!

[4HAND]

Often these lists are vague.I think people are reluctant to make claims as there are so many exceptions to the rule.I will say that the congo african grey is universally heralded as the best[both in clarity and vocabulary]talker.Amazons,though I don't have enough experience to get specific have to be in the top five.You might try visiting Birdtalk.com.I seem to remember them publishing a list a few years back.As for the conures,Blue crowns, Suns, Green Cheeks in that order.My conures don't fit that mold however,and I doubt any conures would be in the overall top 5.
Tena

[birdlady49]

You can't really make a general statement on what bird is the best talker. You can have an African Grey and it may never utter a word. Yet you can also have a budgie who learns hundreds of words. In fact, it is a budgie that is in the Guiness Book of World Records as having the largest recorded vocabulary (about 1,800 words I think ... or is it 18,000?)

If talking is what you're looking for in a new companion, you need to find one that already talks. Otherwise, one of those talking toys at Walmart will have to do.

[PowerBBS]

It was 'Puck" the parakeet (budgie) that had a vocabulary that compromised of 1,728 documented words. He was entered into the Guiness Book of World Records in 1995 (just three months before he died at only 5 years of age - of a tumor). It's been documented by video recording that this little fella was assumed to have an understanding of some of the words it said and even started to make it's own sentence structure. A website dedicated to this little wonder is: The Bird with the Largest Vocabulary in the World

Prior to that two African Greys held the record. Now they are the second and third largest vocaburay by a bird(s). However, they are topping at (as of January of 2007) at only 967 words then down to 800 words.

The recently departed world famous talker - Alex (a CAG) was acredited as being the smartest bird in the world as he demonstrated the ability to make cognative sentences and decisions when asked specific questions. However, even his vocabulary was deteremined to have just over 100 words.

Our African grey has a vocabulary of about 30 words. "Skoobie doo", "Skoobie doo is a good boy", "How's my little man", "Hello", "Peekaboo", etc.... and can make about 15 different distinct learned noises. He's currently attempting to whisle the theme to the Andy Griffith Show. There is a Grey that was featured on "Pet Star" and won the second place prize for talking that you can find on just about any video public site including youtube.com. I believe the CAG has his own "show" at the zoo he currently lives in. I think it's in Georgia.

I've heard Amazon's literally sing entire songs in perfect pitch and tone as the original singers. You'll find these clips all over Youtube.com. One was even featured on the tv series "Pet Star" as well.

As for Conures, I can only speak of experience from our Sun and GCC and that is that they typically seem to only learn a few words (maybe 10 or 15). Maybe others out there have had better luck/experience. Our GCC can say "Love Your" and "Baby" and can laugh and make very distinctive kissing noises. He even makes these noises while preening our Sun Conure. The sun can laugh and make kissing noises as well. Her favorite word is "What?". She learned it as when she started squalking too much, I used to open the door to the bird room she lives in and say "What? What do you want?". I've seen training videos of conures holding a balancing wand in their mouth with the ends on either side lit on fire and walking a tight rope.

I personally have never seen a mature Macaw that didn't talk at least a little, or a Umbrella Cockatoo. I have a friend who has a Green Cheek Conure who can make laughing and barking noises like a seal and sing a little. I've seen 100's of parakeets that do not talk Many years ago I had two parakeets and had no/very little luck getting them to talk.

It is so true that there is literally no guarantee any bird you get will ever talk, even if you spend your/their entire life attempting to. Statistically the African Grey seems to be the most successful.

Anyhow that's enough rambling on my part. But that's my experience and study on it all.

[Isaac-1]

Part of the problem is to define what you mean by best talker, is it clearest voice, is it biggest vocabulary, is it use in certain context, etc. When it comes to clearest voice, I think everyone would agree that the greys are the best. They are also up there on context and total vocabulary, picking from there is where it gets hard. Particulary when you consider the variation in ability from one individual to another, or those like my Blue Front Amazon that are closet talkers (he will never talk if he knows someone is in the room with him, I have caught him talking from around the corner before though, and while his intonation is good, it is not as good as my CAG's.

Ike

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

Part of the problem is to define what you mean by best talker, is it clearest voice, is it biggest vocabulary, is it use in certain context, etc.

Well I tried to be specific by saying that I was looking for which bird is known to have the best ability to learn.

For instance, a CAG might have best enunciation while another type parrot is well known for the ability to pick up words or learn more readily while their enunciation might be weaker.

Puck the parakeet sounds a amazing!! I am not looking for a prodigy just a bird companion in the future I can raise who will enjoy talking and training with me. 10 word vocabulary would be extremely satisfying.

Thank you Power, Birdlady, and 4Hand for being willing to respond. I GREATLY appreciate your opinions and you all point out some disappointing but understood facts.

There is really no list of best learners.
No guarantees Which I already expected from what I have read.
And The safest bet is the CAG.

I truly mean no offense to CAG owners and lovers. I myself am partial to color. My favorite two colors are blue and yellow so the Hyacinth Macaw while outrageously expensive, is the highest on my dream list. I think the CAG has a majestic beauty and is really solidly gorgeous but to be honest it isn't high on my list the same way Cockatiels aren't. Just my simple bias, hope none of this is offensive to lovers of both birds.

Since there is no list truly concrete concerning this, and opinions are free and they are worth exactly that. I will preface this by saying that I want your opinions and understand that you may or will be wrong and that I should take all opinions in moderation.

But, after the CAG what would be the next strongest talker? All facets of speech are important, enunciation or vocabulary retention. But, what I am looking for is this:

Which bird, after the CAG, would be the most able to handle and RESPOND to a determined training on speech?

Not in the near future, but someday I would love the opportunity to work with a bird with the potential to learn to talk. After 10 words I would be greatly overjoyed so lengthy vocabs is only a bonus, I just don't want to choose a bird companion who is likely to dislike the training sessions.

My lovebird is now 2 months old and someone's opinion I have read around is that the lovebird is best to learn if it would AT ALL is during the 2-4 month range since the hypothesis is that the tongue would be more flexible at that age.

I fully understand and expect my bird to learn nothing at all. I don't expect it from him, and won't ever let him think I was disappointed if he never repeated anything at all. But, before I start whistles I wanted to try speech with him. So, he will be fun to try it on, but someday I would like to gain a friend in a bird that will have the most potential after a CAG to learn from our training sessions.

So, to repeat my one question out of all this rambling : Which parrot after a CAG is a willing learner? Enunciation not entirely important, just a parrot companion who would be most apt to gaining something from my efforts.

Thanks again for being willing to respond even though what I ask is outside the realm of FACT I just appreciate the opinion. It is miles ahead of my knowledge.

[Odysseus]

P.S. If a CAG is my absolute best bet, I would have no problem loving a CAG. My wife and I just prefer more color. I think CAGs are awesome and I have seen some of those YouTube videos you said and I have LOVED them!! Here's one that I REALLY love it is a Yellow Nape Amazon Parrot:

YouTube - Lolita on The Johnny Carson Show

[PowerBBS]

Originally Posted by Odysseus

P.S. If a CAG is my absolute best bet, I would have no problem loving a CAG. My wife and I just prefer more color. I think CAGs are awesome and I have seen some of those YouTube videos you said and I have LOVED them!! Here's one that I REALLY love it is a Yellow Nape Amazon Parrot:

YouTube - Lolita on The Johnny Carson Show

Yes, that kind of singing is exactly what I'm talking about. I've only encountered that kind of singing in Amazons which is why I would love to get one (however, currently have no room or money this time of year to afford one).

Argumentively, I would say that a Amazon when taught properly can speak as clear if not more clearly than a Grey. But I'm only basing that on what I've heard online thru video.

[LouieBird]

As far as learning ability goes I would have to say the Budgie due to their rather short life-span versus larger species and their uncanny need to communicate in whatever way they seem necessary to get our attention

[birdlady49]

For singing, nothing beats an Amazon. Years ago when I worked for a veterinarian (not an avian vet), we were boarding an Amazon (can't remember the species) who sang I Left My Heart in San Francisco. It was hysterical.

For talking ability, either an African Grey or a budgie (male) are the ones most likely to talk. You may be the only one who understands the budgie, but they can definitely be wonderful talkers.