Do birds that talk really know what they are saying?

Answer 1

i think they do, they certainly understand what you say to them, and they connect what you say with what you do, so I'm positive they do. i read an article about a professor that took a cockatoo to an elementary school to teach the importance of caring for your pets, particularly the demanding needs of parrots. mind you this was a cockatoo he had rescued years ago, tame and well behaved so it seemed like a good idea. in the middle of the presentation the professors assistant got to close to the already nervous cockatoo and he bit her finger!!! well, embarrassed and in pain the assistant gave the bird a stern look, and in a loud tone she tapped the birds beak and said, "bad bird, don't bite!!! to which the cockatoo responded " bad bird? f**k you." you can imagine what trouble this caused. parents were screaming, kids giggling but the bird knew when to say it. he never said it to the professor before, so in conclusion, birds definitely understand.

Answer 2

Hi there. In the last 10 years thoughts on the intelligence of parrots have really changed. They are capable to relate words with things. I taught mine word associations. It's really cool and a crude communication system but is really worth the effort. For example, I say "What do you want?" My bird responds with "Chow, chow? (for a treat) or "Wanna Play!" (to come out of his cage). Some birds are just taught to repeat meaningless phrases. I do both. Have a great year.

Answer 3

As you can tell some people believe they just mimic. Others believe they know what they are saying. With that in mind think about it,.... some parrots have the intelligence level of 3,4,5 year olds,....do you think a child of that age knows what he/she is saying? Of course they do! I honestly believe my parrots know what they are saying and doing for that matter. My african grey timneh is only 1 and is talking some so far. But when I go into the kitchen she will ring her bell. She doesn't usually touch her bell until I go into the kitchen, and no I didn't train her to ring it when she is hungry. Since I have noticed this habit she now has I will ask her after she stops ringing it and walks away from it " Jewel if you are hungry ring your bell." She will then go back to her bell and ring it. Keep in mind I didn't train her to do that. Never even thought of doing such honestly. My 4 parrots range in age from under a year (quaker), 1 year old (african grey timneh), 2 yr old (goffin cockatoo), 6 yr old (yellow nape amazon). And they know what is going on around them. My yellow nape will start calling my son when it is close to time for me to go pick up my son "Bubba hey Bubba". They also have a tendency of putting together sentences of their own and know when and when not to say them. So YES I believe and feel they know what they are saying. :)

Answer 4

I say yes. I have a green cheeked conure, that will say treat, if I don't respond, a few seconds will go by and he repeats,"treat", and he will keep saying it until we bring him treats. In the morning I give my birds the food they hand feed baby birds. I mix a little and split it up between my birds. We have always called it oatmeal, when we put it in his dish he says "umm, it's good oatmeal," and looks up at us with a beak full of oatmeal. You can think what you want, but I say they know what they are saying.

Answer 5

Some clueless people will say no, but in fact they have the intelligence of a 3 year old child, they do understand small simple words. Usually its people who never had a parrot who think they only repeat what they hear

Answer 6

No, I don't think so.

I think the examples where people speak to their birds and get answers that make sense in regards to what the person says first is where they were probably taught to say/repeat it in that context. Like, if they hear "who's a pretty bird?" and reply with "I'm a pretty bird!", chances are they were taught by repetition to complete the 'who's a pretty bird' line.

I'm in a community where someone has a parrot whose favourite phrases learned from his family are "oh my God!" and "HELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLO--" etc. One morning, he mushed the two together and while the owner was in another room, he yelled "HELLO GOD!" Quirky little guys. :P

Answer 7

i do not remember what show it was but i think it was on animal planet. african greys are very intelligent and can and will use words that they are taught and will use them the way they are intended to be used. it was really interesting. in fact this one grey that they had the program about actually had a psycic connection with its human mommy. i wish i could remember because it was the most interesting thing i ever saw. this bird DID know what he was saying and he understood what was being said to him.

Answer 8

I could tell you some stories that would crack you up!
* Umbrella Cockatoo: name: Charlie Beeper.
occupation: Alarm system.
*Umbrella Cockatoo: name: Ms. Sassy.
occupation: Opera Singer/Food Critic
*Molluccian Cockatoo: name: Gorgeous
occupation: Electrician/Wire Removal

I have many more. They speak to me and say things like:
"I love you...Alot!" "LET ME OUT!NOW!" "Where you going?"
"Shut up!" "I didn't do it" "Elmos here!"
the list is a really long one! My birds aren't 'pets' they are my 'friends'. I speak to them just like I speak to a human, except I might repeat things just to make sure they understood me, and they answer with some really interesting comments some times!
Over the years I've learned to 'hear' them and get what they are saying to me. Trust me, it does happen!

There is a pet psychic that had a show on The Animal Planet, by the name of Sonya Fitzpatrick. She comes from England and has been psychic with animals since childhood. She now lives in California.
Her show really helped me to listen to my birds and respect their intelligence. She has her own website:
http://www.SonyaFitzpatrick.com
Go and check it out!

Answer 9

My cockatiel says “Thank you for the pretty piece of broccoli!” when you give him broccoli.

Mum always says “Do you want some broccoli? Say thank you!” but he’s constructed the sentence on his own.

He also yells “I’m a pretty boy” when you’re paying to much attention to the budgie he’s caged with.

When you say “who’s a pretty boy?” he responds with “Beautiful boy!”

He’ll say “trust me” when you’re trying to get something in the cage and you tell him not to bite you.

He yells "shut up" when the dog barks.

None of this has been conditioned or taught. I’m convinced he knows what he’s saying.

Answer 10

My bird is a blue and gold macaw and he knows whats he is saying. When I put him to bed at night he calls me a brat. When I give him water he tells me thats what it is. When I go out the door he tells me bye, and and when I enter he says hello. He also knows how to tattle on my cockatoo when she leaves her perch among lots of other things he says only at the right moment. His vocabulary is quite large and he is very inteligent. Of course this all depends on how much time you spend with them and teach them. Yes he knows what he is saying!