Which bird is the most talkative?
Some birds can imitate human speech, and they often know quite a lot of words. Of all of the bird species, parrots and parakeets can mimic human speech more than other bird species. But which parrot or parakeet is the most talkative?
Talkative parrots include the Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), the 21 species of Cockatoo in the Cacatuidae family, and the Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus) from Australia. It also includes the Rose-Ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) from Africa and Asia, and the Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) from Africa. From the Americas, the talkative parrots include the different Macaws in the Psittacidae family from Central America, South America, and North America; the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) from South America; and the Amazon Parrots in the Psittacidae family from South America.
Other birds, that are not parrots, can talk too, such as the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), native to Asia, in the Sturnidae family.
Most parrot species can learn about 50 human-spoken words. Scientists think that the most talkative bird in the world is the African Grey Parrot, which can learn over 800 words.
The African Grey Parrot is mostly grey with red tail feathers. It grows to about 33 centimetres (13 inches) tall, with a wingspan of 46-52 centimetres (18-20 inches). It is native to countries such as Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda.
Location of photographs: Kenya and Paris Zoo, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM