Birds are cheerful creatures. They make beautiful sounds and sing alluring songs. There is no doubt that parrots are the best in the field. Aside from making lively hymns, they are one of the few bird species that can imitate a human voice.
Due to these characteristics, they are the most in-demand birds acquired as pets. Why wouldn’t you? Having a parrot at home makes the house alive. They can make you feel one with nature. Parrots can also lighten the mood with their innate playfulness.
You will be surprised by their ability. A parrot can produce a variety of sounds. They can serenade you with sweet melodies, but they are also capable of giving a little scare. If you want to learn about the different sounds they make, scroll down and find out.
Why Parrots Make Sounds?
Parrots can be compared to humans when they make different sounds. People talk and express themselves, depending on how they feel. You can hear based on their voices if they are ecstatic, frustrated, or sad.
Birds have the same tendency. They make sounds based on what they feel. The noises they make are distinct from the different feelings they have. It is their way of expressing themselves. If you own a parrot at home, you have surely heard their different mood swings through their sounds.
Classification of Sounds
There is indeed a lot of sounds produced by birds. These are divided into three categories. Check it out and learn to differentiate the sounds.
Non-Vocal Sounds
This category is easy to distinguish. Parrots create sounds while doing simple things. If you hear the sound of munching when they are feasting on seeds, it is one of the best examples. When they use their wings to fly and stick their beaks into something, it is a non-verbal sound. Any noises they make without using their vocal cords fall under this category.
Songs
Who says only humans can create a beautiful song? Parrots can do the same. These are the sounds they make when finding a mate or if they are in the wild having a dispute over territory. Yes, it is under song classification, but these are not just serene rhythms. Their vocalization can be from sweet to strident sounds.
Calls
You need to have a good perception of your birds to be able to tell the sounds from each category. If you hear a parrot vocalization, it doesn’t automatically mean that it is on the song’s category. These birds can produce an even jarring sound but less complicated than the songs.
Types of Vocalization
Now that you are familiar with the major categories. Let us move on to the types of sounds. If you own a parrot, most especially a first-time bird owner, there are a lot of questions going through your mind. You will wonder what are these sounds and what is my bird trying to say. Continue reading, and let’s find out.
Happy Tunes
Birds cannot freely express and tell you straight up that they are feeling happy. You can notice it with the sounds they make. Here are the examples that will tell if your little pet is having a good day.
- Talking – It is the most popular ability of parrots. They can imitate human voices. Due to this unique trait, many people are fascinated with this species. Here is a tip for you. If your parrot is talking, it is in a good mood and feeling happy. They are quite moody that they won’t talk if they are feeling down.
- Singing – Parrots can have high pitch notes. It may not be smooth and serene to hear, but it is a sign that your pet is happy. Don’t be surprised because humans share the same trait. We do sing when we are feeling elated.
- Whistling – Singing and whistling can be mistaken for the other. The good thing is, it has the same meaning. Your parrot friends are feeling jovial.
- Tongue Clicking – When parrots make this sound, they are seeking for attention. It can be due to boredom that they want to play or simply trying to get your attention. In most instances, they want their owners to hold and pet them.
- Beak Grinding – If you notice the birds grinding, keep your mind at ease. These babies are feeling safe and secure. If they are feeling contented, it means they are having a good time with you.
- Chatter – You usually hear this from a parrot when they are engrossed on something interesting. It is a happy sound they make to show their passion and contentment.
- Purring – Others may mistake purring into growling. There is indeed a close similarity. You can distinguish purring as it is less intense. Parrots do this when they are feeling contented or seeking attention.
Neutral Sounds
As the word neutral suggests, these sounds are in the middle. You cannot say if the bird is happy or sad. It is the kind of tune when your bird is trying to confuse you.
- Laughing – You are probably wondering why laughing sound is under the neutral type. Here is the thing. When parrots laugh, they are not doing it because they are happy. They are just imitating a human laugh.
- Silence – It is included in the neutral type because silence holds different meanings. It is difficult to figure out if a parrot is silent because it is not in the mood, tired, or focused.
Unhappy Tunes
Among all the sounds that a parrot make, unhappy ones are not something you would want to hear all the time. It is usually on a loud level, accompanied by a high pitch note.
- Beak Clicking – It is when there is a quick rattling of the upper and lower beak. Be wary when you hear parrots do this. It is a signal of a threat. Parrots usually create this sound when they are feeling threatened. You might be posing an intimidating remark on their territory. This can also mean that they are possessive with their mate. There are instances as well when birds do this for their owners. You can also check for their pupils. It will appear dilated if they are pissed. You would easily know they are not happy about something.
- Growling – If a parrot is growling, you need to be attentive. They can pounce anytime. This is a trait of aggression in birds. If they growl at you, it means they are not happy or comfortable with what you are doing. You cannot mistake this for a happy sound. Once they growl, you would know instantly that they are mad.
Other signs accompanied by growling is when you see their neck and feathers in attention. Their pupils will also be dilated. Here’s a little warning, don’t get too close because they will bite.
- Alarm Calls – These noises are loud, sharp, and in rapid succession. Parrots don’t make this sound because they are feeling sad. You need to attend to the bird immediately. Parrots sending alarm calls means they are scared of something.
- Screaming – This is one of the bad behaviors when it comes to parrots. They do this to seek attention. If you are indulging them all the time, it will become a habit. When they feel bored, parrots will try to get your attention by screaming so loud.
- Squawking – Parrots use this sound to show their boredom or a fit of low-level anger. It can be annoying not just for humans but for other birds as well. It will make them uncomfortable, so it is best for everyone if you can get this under control.
- What you can do is divert their attention by giving them a treat or a toy. This way, they can divert their attention and stop squawking. The parrot, you, and the other birds will be at peace.
Takeaway
Now that you know the different sounds created by the parrots, it is easier to understand their behavior. You can also figure out the kind of mood they are in by listening to the sounds they make. Knowing all this should help in creating a harmonious relationship between you and your pet.
Understanding them is important. But you have to know where to draw the line. Do not indulge your bird all the time. The burden will be on your shoulders once they become attention seekers.
