Mexican red head parrots, also known as amazon red head parrots, are medium-sized parrots native to Mexico and parts of Central America. They are popular as pets due to their striking bright green plumage accented with red patches on their head, wings, and tails. But one of the main questions people have about Mexican red heads is: do they talk?
Can Mexican Red Heads Talk?
Yes, Mexican red head parrots have the ability to mimic human speech and learn words and phrases when kept as pets. However, the extent to which an individual Mexican red head will talk can vary greatly depending on several factors.
Influencing Factors
There are a few key factors that influence a Mexican red head parrot’s talking ability and how much they will vocalize:
- Age – Younger birds under 3 years old generally pick up speech more easily.
- Gender – Males tend to be better talkers than females.
- Socialization – Frequent positive interactions with owners promotes vocalization.
- Training – Specific speech training exercises can help expand a bird’s vocabulary.
- Confidence – Shy, fearful birds are less likely to mimic speech.
So while the majority of Mexican red heads have the capacity for speech, the actual amount of talking an individual parrot will do comes down to its unique personality, training, and relationship with owners.
Speech Clarity
In general, most owners report that Mexican red head parrots have clear,distinct speech for mimicking words and phrases. Their speech tends to be nasally but easy to understand.
They are considered average talkers compared to other parrot species – they typically don’t reach the vocal clarity of an African grey or the extensive talking capabilities of an Indian ringneck. But their speech is usually more clear compared to parakeets or cockatiels.
Vocabulary
The average vocabulary size for a Mexican red head parrot is about 25-100 words or phrases. But they are definitely capable of learning larger vocabularies of 150+ words with consistent training and socialization.
Some key factors that influence vocabulary size are:
- Amount of speech training – More daily repetition of words will expand vocabulary.
- Number of owners interacting – Multi-family households provide more conversation.
- Age when obtained – Younger birds pick up speech more readily.
- Enrichment – A stimulating environment promotes vocalization.
Mexican red heads are considered good mimics when it comes to sounds, so besides speech they can also copy phone ringing, doorbells, household alarms, and other noises they commonly hear.
Phrase Length
Most Mexican red head parrots can master short phrases of 2-5 words. With consistent training, some exceptional talkers can handle longer phrases of 10 or more words.
Their ability to mimic and combine words into meaningful phrases comes down to factors like:
- Individual personality – Some birds show more interest in speech than others.
- Training techniques – Learning keyword by keyword instead of phrases may limit combining words.
- Age – Younger birds absorb speech patterns easier.
- Clear owner speech – Distinct speech encourages clearer mimicking.
Though they may not be the most advanced talkers compared to larger parrot species, Mexican red heads can still amuse owners with their ability to memorize and repeat common phrases and expressions they hear frequently.
Talking Examples
To give an idea of the type of vocabulary and phrases Mexican red head parrots can potentially learn, here are some examples reported by owners:
- “Hello” and “Hi”
- “What are you doing?”
- “I love you”
- “How are you?”
- “Good morning/night”
- “What’s your name?”
- “Come here”
- “Want some food?”
- “Good boy/girl”
- “Be quiet”
They also commonly mimic typical household sounds like telephone rings, alarm clocks, microwaves, etc. Some may even try to imitate the sounds of dogs barking or cats meowing if they live in the same household.
Talking Ability by Gender
Male Mexican red head parrots generally have better talking ability than females. There are some key differences between genders when it comes to speech:
| Males | Females |
|---|---|
| Larger vocabularies, usually over 50+ words | Smaller vocabularies, usually less than 50 words |
| Mimic speech often and readily | Slower to mimic speech |
| Better memory for long phrases | Better with short words and phrases |
| More distinct pronunciation | Softer, less nasal pronunciation |
However, there can be exceptions with some very vocal females that are on par with male talking abilities. But in most cases, the males tend to be the better talkers.
Steps to Teach Speech
If you want to teach a Mexican red head parrot to talk, follow these tips:
- Start young – Begin training between 6 months to 3 years old for best results.
- Use short, repetitive phrases – Frequently repeat distinct words and phrases.
- Have multiple trainers – Allow family members to interact and model speech.
- Use a reward system – Offer treats when mimicking words correctly.
- Be patient – Speech development takes consistent practice over time.
- Use target noises – Incorporate phones ringing, alarms, whistles etc. to mimic.
- Provide a rich environment – Rotate new toys and interactions to stimulate vocalization.
With frequent, positive speech training sessions from a young age, you can help maximize your Mexican red head’s talking potential.
When Do They Start Talking?
For Mexican red heads, vocalizations beyond natural contact calls generally start between 9-18 months old. But their talking skills really accelerate between 1-3 years old as their vocal skills and vocabulary expand.
Starting speech training early in this timeframe is key – the youngest a bird is when obtained, the better chance it has of reaching its full talking potential.
However, Mexican red heads can still pick up new words and phrases even into maturity, so speech training can continue across their lifespan.
Do Females Talk?
Yes, female Mexican red head parrots are capable of speech, just generally not at the same level as males. The main differences are:
- Slower to start mimicking words and phrases
- Softer, less nasal pronunciation
- Smaller vocabularies of less than 50 words
- Better at short words than long phrases
But personality plays a role too. Some female Mexican red heads can be quite chatty and amuse owners with their vocalizations. Early speech training can help maximize vocal potential in females.
Comparison to Other Parrots
When it comes to talking ability, Mexican red heads are in the middle tier of parrot species. They don’t rank at the top with advanced talking parrots but have better speech mimicry than small parakeets and cockatiels.
Some parrot species that Mexican red heads are on par with for speech include:
- Green cheek conures
- Quaker parakeets
- Caique parrots
- Canary winged parakeets
More advanced talkers that can develop larger vocabularies and clearer speech include:
- African grey parrots
- Amazon parrots
- Eclectus parrots
- Indian ringneck parakeets
Mexican red heads fit nicely in the mid-range for talking pets. Their speech is generally clear and understandable, even if their vocabularies don’t reach the capabilities of larger parrot species.
Talking Videos
To see the talking abilities of Mexican red heads, check out these example videos of them mimicking words, phrases, and sounds:
[insert embedded video links]
Seeing talking Mexican red heads on video helps give a sense of their nasally but distinct speech. With regular speech training, many owners are able to capture their parrots’ expanding vocabularies and favorite phrases on camera.
Conclusion
Mexican red head parrots can make good talking pets with their ability to mimic speech and sounds. Males tend to have greater talking potential, but both genders can learn an array of words, phrases, and household noises with consistent training. While not the most advanced talkers compared to larger parrots, Mexican red heads can still amuse owners with their vocal skills when socialized frequently from a young age.
