Top 15 Small-to-Medium Birds That Can Talk

While many people often think that the only birds that talk are large, there are actually many different species of small-to-medium-sized birds that can learn to speak. All the birds on this list weigh well under one pound but don't let their size fool you. When given enough time and training, the birds on this list can get pretty chatty.

Pacific Parrotlet

They may be small but they sure are mighty. Pacific parrotlets are actually tiny members of the parrot family and have the personality of their larger family members, too. They are pretty quiet birds but can learn 10 to 15 words that they say in a whisper-like voice.

Species Overview

Length: 4.5 to 5.5 inches

Weight: 1 ounce

Physical Characteristics: Green head and body; blue on back and behind eyes; mutations include blue, yellow, and white

Budgerigar

Budgerigars are commonly referred to as budgies or parakeets. Many people don't realize that these small, colorful birds can learn hundreds of words. They may not be as loud and clear as larger birds, but their vocabulary can be just as extensive.

Species Overview

Length: 6 to 8 inches

Weight: 1 to 1.5 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Green abdomen; black and yellow back; yellow head; dark blue tail; mutations include blue, yellow, white, and gray

Cockatiel

If you're looking for a personable, talking bird that's just a little larger than a budgie or parrotlet, the cockatiel may be perfect for you. These Australian birds are great at mimicking sounds and noises as well as words they hear in the house.

Species Overview

Length: 12 to 13 inches

Weight: 2-4 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Gray body; yellow face and crest; orange cheeks; long tail; mutations include albino, lutino, pied, and cinnamon

Indian Ringneck Parakeet

Indian ringneck parakeets are very talkative birds and it doesn't take long for them to start learning to speak. Some ringnecks aren't even a year of age before they start talking to their owners and can develop a vocabulary of 200 words.

Species Overview

Length: 14 to 17 inches

Weight: 4 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Green plumage; blue tail; yellow under wings; males have black and rose rings around their necks; mutations include blue, cinnamon, albino, and lutino

Quaker Parrot

Also known as monk parakeets, the Quaker parrot isn't legal to keep as a pet everywhere but where it is allowed, it can also learn a lot of words and phrases. These birds love to mimic sounds and may even be heard singing.

Species Overview

Length: 11 to 12 inches

Weight: 3 to 5 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Green head, wings, and body; gray breast, cheeks, and throat; blue flight feathers ; mutations include blue, albino, cinnamon, lutino, and pied

Blue-Crowned Conure

While conures can be noisy, they are not known to be great talkers. Despite this, the blue-crowned conure is still able to learn some words and short phrases with a little repetition, patience, and consistency.

Species Overview

Length: 14 to 16 inches

Weight: 3 to 6 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Bright blue head; green body; reddish tail tip; pink legs; tan beak; white rings around eyes

Senegal Parrot

Senegal parrots are often much quieter than their cousins but they can still learn dozens of words. They are popular birds for those living in apartments since they aren't as loud as some other birds.

Species Overview

Length: 10 inches

Weight: 4 to 6 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Gray head; green wings and chest; V-shaped patch of a red to yellow color on belly

Black-Hooded Parakeet

Also known as a nanday parakeet, the black-hooded parakeet is well-known for some of its interesting behaviors including falling asleep on its back with its feet in the air. But nandays can do more than play dead, they can talk! Their voice is a little raspy but they can still learn up to 20 words.

Species Overview

Length: 10 to 11 inches

Weight: 5 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Black head; green body; grayish-blue chest patch; blue tail; red accent on legs; white eye rings; black beak

White-Fronted Amazon Parrot

Also known as a spectacled Amazon parrot, this small Amazon species can be a very noisy bird. Shreaks and screams are to be expected but so are words and mimicked noises.

Species Overview

Length: 10 inches

Weight: 7 to 8 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Green body with blue patches; white and blue patches on the forehead; red rings around their eyes; blue wings; red underneath the tail and on the edges of the wings

White-Capped Pionus Parrots

Most pionus parrots are quieter than some of their larger parrot cousins but that doesn't mean they don't talk. White-capped pionus will mimic sounds and can learn a few simple words.

Species Overview

Length: 9 to 10 inches

Weight: 7 to 9 ounces

Physical Characteristics: White head; white chin spot; green and blue body feathers; yellow-green shoulders; red under the tail

Cuban Amazon Parrot

Cuban Amazon parrots are also known as rose-throated parrots. They are very smart birds but for their size, they can also be pretty noisy. Thankfully, with a little training, they can easily become talkative birds, too.

Species Overview

Length: 11 to 13 inches

Weight: 8 to 9 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Green body; red throat and lower part of face; white forehead and eye rings; blue on wings

Goffin Cockatoo

Goffin cockatoos are best described as little clowns. They are comical, curious, and also great at talking. These small cockatoos are also very expressive and can be found talking to themselves as though they are practicing.

Species Overview

Length: 12 inches

Weight: 10 ounces

Physical Characteristics: All white head, wings, body, and tail; light beak; white eye rings

Yellow-Shouldered Amazon Parrot

Another smaller Amazon parrot species is the yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot. Like other Amazons, this bird can be a great talker but they are very playful and love hanging upside down, too.

Species Overview

Length: 13 inches

Weight: 10 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Green body; yellow head; white forehead; yellow on wing elbows

Rose-Breasted Cockatoo

Also known as the Galah cockatoo, these pink birds can become quite chatty. Males are typically more talkative than females, but both are capable of talking as well as mimicking a variety of noises.

Species Overview

Length: 12 to 15 inches

Weight: 11 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Pink body, neck, and head; pinkish-white crest; gray wings, tail, and back; light-colored beak

Timneh African Grey Parrot

Weighing in at about 13 ounces, Timnehs may be the smallest of the African greys but their talking ability outshines their size. These grays are some of the most talkative birds and can even understand context.

Species Overview

Length: 9 to 11 inches

Weight: 13 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Dark grey body; maroon tail

Read the original article on The Spruce Pets.