Why parrots can talk like humans

Monkeys are our closest biological relatives, and they can't speak. But parrots don’t seem to have a problem at all.

In 2016 researchers released a study with an incredible headline: monkey vocal tracts are speech-ready. It showed that monkeys are held back from speech not by their bodies, but by their brains. But if that’s the case, what’s the deal with birds?

Parrots are known for their ability to mimic human speech with incredible accuracy. It’s jarring to hear an animal so vastly different from us speaking our language. So how do they do it? Partially, neurology: parrots are wired for communication in ways other animals (including other birds) are not. But it’s largely physiology. Birds are uniquely equipped to make sounds, and this video will give you a basic overview of how that works.

Throughout reporting this piece I had several conversations with Dr. Irene Pepperberg – If you’re interested in the neurology of these birds, I highly recommend checking out her studies on African Grey parrots. I’ve linked to a few of them below:

Evidence for Conceptual Quantitative Abilities in the African Grey Parrot: Labeling of Cardinal Sets
Acquisition of the same/different concept by an African Grey parrot: Learning with respect to categories of color, shape, and material
Number Comprehension by a Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), Including a Zero-Like Concept

[catherinew.]

Human: *whistles*
Bird: “why humans can talk like us”

[gameplayxtreme]

As a parrot owner, I can safely say that once they can talk, they won't shut up

[Anetax]

My parrot says “look at the mess” every time I sweep the floor

[nicholaswong]

I just wanna train a parrot to say "I'm finally getting used to this body"

[creeperbomb]

Meanwhile my parrot:
Lol imma gonna mimic the microwave beep and the smoke alarm *with the same noise level*

[sprucetree]

Imagine walking through a rainforest and just hearing a camera go off and there’s just a bird

[Jayman]

A while back I was holding my bird and he said "can you come closer?" Which is something I never taught him, I brought him closer to me and he started playing with my hair. Birds are freakishly smart

[Ariana-pgix]

My African grey used to mimick a knocking at the door so accurately we would think someone came to visit

[dr.zespert]

Other parrots: mimic owners saying I love you

My parrot: mimics the ten year old next door screaming

[nicolasaguilar]

That bird in the wild imitating a camera is super wild. Cool

[flakeyfilms]

2030: Parrots become the fastest rappers

[meanyapickles]

"When parrots live with us, we're their flock, and they're determined to sing our song."
Why does that feel so profound and beautiful

[ILLAILLS]

“Will you marry me” will forever haunt my soul.

[purpleparrot]

Having had parrots for over 40 years, Same one the whole time, I can say, parrots don't just mimic. They understand.

[thetrashmaster]

Raven: I can sound like a human
Parrot: Yeah well I can sound almost exactly like a human
Lyrebird: Can yall mimic an entire construction site? Didn't think so kids.

[sarahrichardson]

I have an Eclectus parrot, she is 16 years old and talks in context. They aren’t just copying us, they are communicating.

[RJBuildsPcs]

Video on birds talking only has it saying hello 😂😂😂.

[pegasooses]

*Vox editor* : I can't find any pictures of birds
*Vox manager* : I bought you that art kit didnt I

[Unni_Havas]

They don't only mimic our sounds, they can understand human language too if you take the time to teach them(nor sure if all species can, but some). A friend of mine is a professional animal trainer and trained birds to use in shows for some time. Afterwards she kept a few of her favorite birds around. 1 of them act like a 2-4 year old kid. He can eat nicely from a plate, another of her birds same species made a mess. When he was hurt and had to go to the vet, afterwards he was sick and didn't want to eat. She told him that if he didn't eat she had to take him to the man in the white coat again(the vet), he then went over the the food bowl, ducked his head in, pretended to eat and kept an eye on her to see if she bought it. You could also ask him yes or no questions wich he would answer with moving his head. And he always answered correctly. You could ask him follow up questions too like why and he would again answer correctly. He would rat out anyone if they did something the owner didn't like. If she had him in the house she could hold him over a bucket and tell him to go and he did. He spend a lot of time as a house pet was around her a LOT in his younger years though, so don't expect to achieve this if you spend 30 min a day with your parrot.

[mika_ed_ginger]

My parrot curses me whenever I accidentally forget to do his tasks.