Parrot Sounds

"Screaming or Shrieking This is an alarm call, meant to warn all other parrot for miles around that the end is nigh! It is often inspired by a creature or object that the parrot is convinced is life-threatening, from a bird of prey in the sky to a loathed household appliance such as a vacuum cleaner. Or it might be due to a new sight or sound, something that has scared the parrot. African Greys have another version of the shriek, a particularly loud growl. It means the same thing. Singing Parrots sing when they are happy, just like a human in the shower. The song is an ever-changing mixture of the bird’s favourite sounds, from gurgles and trills to whistles and squawks. Some parrot species are more musical than others, and many are the bird version of tone-deaf. They will happily join in with background music or conversation, and some (the macaws are often guilty of this) seem to take wicked pleasure in singing off-key.Squawking This is sometimes a sign of boredom and low-level anger. It generally shakes things up, as the other birds become restless, and the human owner tends to intervene with attempts at reassurance or ill-concealed anger! Try to end the squawks with a new treat or toy rather than lots of cooing and attention, or the parrot might well become an ever-squawking attention seeker – something no one wants! It’s never a good dea to shout at the birds either, as this will only put everyone on edge, and may simply inspire even more squawking. Talking This is an extended version of ‘chatter’ (see above). If a parrot has learned human words and sounds, he will only utter them when he’s feeling happy, relaxed and/or inquisitive. Being clever animals, they soon learn that these sounds please those strange, wingless, featherless giant parrots on the other side of the cage/aviary, and will often use a favourite word, phrase or whistle to get your attention. (For a more in-depth look at talking parrots, see the Teaching Parrots to Talk section of this guide)."