Best Talking Parrot Breeds in 2025

Skupify July 05, 2025

 Best Talking Parrot Breeds in 2025 – Smartest 

Birds That Can Speak!

There's an undeniable charm about a talking parrot, isn't there? Welcome home to a friendly "hello", hearing your feathered companion mimic household sounds, and even interacting in what is convincingly a conversation! Parrots are well known for their amazing mimicking capacity and ability to mimic human speech thanks to their amazing anatomical features and their remarkable intelligence and sociality. They are hardwired to want to communicate and belong to a fun group—group, in this context could be you! 

All parrots are intelligent and fascinating pets, although some breeds have a much greater natural predisposition and capacity for vocal mimicry than others. The purpose of this exhaustive guide is to assist those new parrot owners (or even bird lovers) are interested in understanding some of the best talking parrot breeds in 2025. We will look at the most intelligent (talking) birds, and their unique vocal traits, intellectual characteristics, temperament, and care aspects. Now let's get ready to find your companion talking parrot, and have fun with your understanding of avian linguistics! 

Why Do Some Parrots Talk So Well?

Parrots, of course, do not "understand" language the way humans do but their ability to mimic is remarkable which is a lot because of:

Syrinx: Their specialized vocal organ, the syrinx, is located at the base of their trachea to allow them to produce a broad range of complex sounds. 
Flexible Tongue: Parrots have a thick strong muscular tongue, in contrast to many other bird species, that assist them in speech formation. 
Intelligence & Social Drive: By nature, parrots are very intelligent and social, and they are excited to mimic sounds it hears in its environment to communicate with and bond with its flock.

The number of sounds a parrot can say depends on a number of factors such as species, an individual bird's personality, and how consistent their training and environmental enrichment is.  

The Best Talking Parrots in 2025: Smartest Birds That Talk! 

Here is our list of breeds with exceptional talking ability starting with the parrot breeds with the largest vocabularies and working our way down!
 

1. African Grey Parrot (Congo & Timneh) 

Talking Ability: African Greys are often the best talking parrot breed known for their amazing mimicry and ability to learn a myriad of different vocabularies (hundreds, if not thousands of words). They can mimic not just words, but are often able to use those words in context so that they speak almost intelligently. They can be exceptionally clear in their speech. 

Affrican Grey is best

Temperament: Highly intelligent and sensitive. These birds can become very anxious if they are not socialized and challenged enough, and develop strong attachments to their owners. 
Care Considerations: Need a lot of mental stimulation with puzzle toys, and consistent social interaction to avoid boredom and developing behaviors like feather plucking. They like routine and a calm environment.

2. Amazon Parrots (Yellow-Naped, Double Yellow-Headed, Blue-Fronted)

Talking Ability: Amazon parrots are well known for their speech clarity, and strong voices, the remarkable talking ability of Amazon parrots can lead them to develop a large and diverse vocabulary, singing, etc. Their voices can sound very human-like.
Temperament: High energy, very playful, and extremely social. They always want to be the center of attention and can be very dramatic! They like to form strong bonds and enjoy interaction with their human flock.
Care Considerations: Require a lot of social interaction, and toys for chewing, and opportunities to exercise outside of the cage. Can exhibit hormonal "bluffing" during adolescence.

3. Indian Ringneck Parakeet

Talking Capability: These medium parakeets are surprisingly good talkers, as they can not only learn longer phrases, but can do so with quite an easily understood clarity. Like humans, they often "sound off" with a comically high pitch.
Temperament: Intelligent, independent, and a bit silly. They require consistent training and socialization from an early age to avoid becoming nippy or aloof.
Care Notes: Require a consistent schedule and sufficient stimulation. When they go through the excessively bluffing stage during adolescence, they may require a patient owner.

4. Eclectus Parrots

Talking Ability: Eclectus parrots have a reputation for clear speech and for being able to learn a wide range of words including entire songs. They also have the ability to accurately replicate sounds around them. Quality of sound is what makes their speech unique. 
Temperament: Eclectus parrots are typically gentle, calm, and have a reputation for making less noise than some other large parrots. The males are often seen as more docile and generally easier to train than female Eclectus parrots.
Care consideration: Eclectus parrots have special dietary needs (more fresh fruits and vegetables and less pellet consumption). They, as a species, are sensitive to stress, meaning that their environment needs to be stable and enriching.

5. Quaker Parrots (Monk Parakeets)

Talking Ability: Quaker parrots are small social birds who are talented mimics, and they can often learn to talk at a young age. Many owners report that their Quakers develop large vocabularies, and they talk with considerable clarity. 
Temperament: Quakers typically have bold confident personalities, and they are highly social birds with a general playful personality. Quakers are known to bond with their owners very closely, and they can be prone to nipping if not properly trained.
Care Considerations: Require a lot of social interaction and mental activity. They are known for making elaborate "nests" from all types of materials, so providing safe shreddable toys is essential. 

6. Budgerigar (Budgie or Parakeet) 

Talking Ability: Do not let their small size fool you! Budgies have broken world records for the largest bird vocabulary! Their voices are a little gravelly, and they might need a little training, but they can learn all sorts of words and phrases, especially the male budgies. 
Temperament: Sociable, playful and very intelligent birds! Budgies thrive with loads of interaction from their owners and can be exceptionally affectionate. 
Care Considerations: Low maintenance in comparison to other large parrots, however, they still need daily interaction, an adequate cage size, and mental stimulation. The best training will be done with single birds. 
👉 Shop for Budgie Food at Amazon UK (Affiliate Link) 

7. Cockatoo (Moluccan or Umbrella) 

Talking Ability: While not known for their vast vocabularies like an African Grey or Amazons, many Cockatoos can learn words and phrases. They are stronger mimics in sounds, inflection, and tone, but often mumble and "babble" in a conversational way.
Temperament: Very friendly, social, and intelligent. Cockatoos are often called "velcro birds" because they will literally cling to you and need physical contact. Cockatoos can have a screaming problem and possible feather plucking if neglected.
Care considerations: Very social birds and will need a MASSIVE amount (several hours) of social interaction every day that isn't from a distance behind a cage. They can be demanding pets and are not a good fit for owners who cannot devote the time and attention needed.

Quick Comparison Chart

Breed Speech Rating Size Best For
African Grey     ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐     Medium-Large     Experienced owners
Budgie     ⭐⭐⭐⭐     Small     Beginners, kids
Amazon (Yellow-Naped)     ⭐⭐⭐⭐     Medium     Families
Indian Ringneck     ⭐⭐⭐⭐     Medium     Consistent trainers
Quaker Parrot     ⭐⭐⭐     Small     Beginners
Eclectus     ⭐⭐⭐     Medium     Quiet homes
Blue-Fronted Amazon     ⭐⭐⭐⭐     Medium     Active homes


Tips to Train Parrot to Talk

These tips from our "How to Train a Parrot to Talk" information will work for your parrot regardless of breed:
Build trust: A good platform of trust will serve as a basis for learning.
Start early! Young birds seem to learn things faster than older birds.
Repetition, repetition, and more repetition: Say the words and phrases, and as clearly (and often) as possible in context.
Positive reinforcement: Praise and provide a reward for any vocalization!
Minimize distractions: Find a quiet place to initially train your parrot.
Start simple: Teach simple sounds to start, such as beeping and whistling sounds.
 👉 (Detailed Blog) How to Train a Parrot to Talk


Important Information to Consider Before Getting a Talking Parrot

Thinking about getting a talking parrot? You should know it is a big commitment.
Lifespan: many pet parrots can live for decades - 20-80+ years, meaning a lifelong commitment.
Noise Levels : Even "quiet" parrots can be loud, so research the average noise level of your species of pet parrot.
Social Needs : All parrots are very social and need to spend time with you every day. Otherwise, time alone can lead to loneliness and problematic behaviours.
Cost : Preparing for the purchase, a cage, food, toys, and vet costs can be high.
Ethical Sourcing : Only buy from reputable breeders and/or rescues. Don't make impulse choices.

In Conclusion

Bringing a talking parrot into your home can be an enriching experience. While talking is a captivating feature of many popular parrot species, understand that each parrot is an individual with its own personality and talking potential. By selecting a breed with established talking abilities and continuing to train, socialize, and provide a stimulating environment, you may not only increase the odds that you have a feathered conversationalist, but you will also gain a loyal, intelligent, and continually interesting friend for the next few decades.

This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This article is meant solely for information purposes only and shouldn't be considered a substitute for the advice of your veterinarian. If your animal will be receiving veterinary care, always consult with your veterinarian for problems that may relate to your pet’s health. Finally, as each breed has its own unique needs, do your research before acquiring a pet parrot.
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