Anyone else wish they knew what their talking bird was saying?

[SisterBlue]

We have a Goffin's that we've only had about a month. He's about 15 months old and came from a very large, loud exotic bird store. So I'm sure he was talked to a lot.

For the first 2 weeks or so he was very quiet and shy, but in the last couple of weeks he's *really* come out of his shell and started showing us his true personality, which if you have ever been around a Goffin's, is nothing short of hysterically goofy.

He doesn't talk a lot, but when he's in a clownish mood he's usually also in a talking mood. "Hello" is pretty clear, as is his "belly laugh" (which sounds to me like it MIGHT have a "snort" at the very end of it!). But he says several other things that I just can't understand. I can tell they are definitely "talking" and not just random bird noises, but I just don't know what he's saying. There are a few single words and a couple of multiple word phrases. I feel rude for not being able to answer him!

Since he's obviously a talker, I'm sure he'll learn new words/phrases from us, but I sure do wish I knew what he was talking about now!

-SB

[Lori~D]

Its funny. Sometimes a sound or word they say will suddenly become apparent one day. Esp if you hear them from another room or farther away. Like I couldnt place a certain sound (non bird sound) my grey was making until one day I flipped the latch on the back patio door and he copied it immediatly afterwords. Same with chopping on the cutting board. I have a Cockatoo whos words are not always distinct but after awhile of hearing the same thing you just all of a sudden "get it".LOL

[Addicted to Tequila]

Yep... had some rehabs like that. If you think about them long enough, you might be able to figure some of them out. Common ones:
Whatcha doing?
How are you?
Be good.
Nite-nite.
I'm a good bird.
I'm a pretty bird.
Uh-oh!

Much worse than the "mumbley" parrot that keeps you guessing is the one that speaks with perfect diction... but says the wrong thing! They like things that are said in an excited voice, and curse words usually are. I had a lovely AG for a few weeks that decided to yell "Oh $h?# !" and other choice phrases when a family had the minister over one night...

[Rach]

Indy has a larger vocabulary then I can understand. When he gets on a roll he starts talking so fast I can't understand him. Last year I happened to video tape him when he was on one of his tangents. When I played it back it was clear as day "Whatch doing Indy?"... something I say to him all the time! You may want to try taping him and then playing it back, or as others have said it usually gets clearer with time!

[Zoe's Mom]

Zazu had been mumbling something for over a week that I couldn't make out. Then the other day clear as a bell he said " come on, you wanna come with mama" . That's what I ask him when I take him from his cage. Give your bird time to practice...one day you will put it together.

[KimM]

It will just pop out one day. Newt will babble a new word or phrase he's learned for about two weeks, then all of a sudden, BAM! He says it clear as a bell.

His new big phrase is to raise his foot and say, "Gimme Four!"