She CAN talk!

[HalfInsane]

I've kind of been surprised that Pixel hasn't picked up any words or phrases yet (not that I care!) She very readily copies sounds. The drain gurgling, the microwave, a couple silly sounds I've taught her (my favourite is the "whoop whoop weeeee!" Sound from Mario).

She occasionally will sit in her cage and go on and on with all these strange garbled sounds that SEEM like she's trying to say something... But are never quiet understandable.

So today she was sitting on my knee, and kept making this garbled sound that just REALLY sounded like she was trying to talk. So I listened more carefully, and thought, hmm, I think she's saying "hey, Pixel". So I said to her as clearly as possible "Hey, Pixel". She looked at me, paused, and then sure enough, in this garbled little robotic voice, "Hey, Pixel"! She CAN talk!

 

[SoCalWendy]

That's so cool....

 

[JerseyWendy]

AAAAWWWWW!!!! How cute!!! But I chuckled at your description of HOW it sounded.

 

[HalfInsane]

AAAAWWWWW!!!! How cute!!! But I chuckled at your description of HOW it sounded.

It's true though! She sounds like a robot with a mouth full of oatmeal . Maybe her pronunciation will improve over time... LOL!

 

[SoCalWendy]

What about whistles that sound like words? Rio does this one sound that sounds exactly like a cockatiel, but now I am wondering if she is trying to say her name. She makes the same sound in two different tones, both sounds like she is saying her name. Is that possible?

 

[Mayden]

AAAAWWWWW!!!! How cute!!! But I chuckled at your description of HOW it sounded.

It's true though! She sounds like a robot with a mouth full of oatmeal . Maybe her pronunciation will improve over time... LOL!

Haha! Love the description. Merlin's "whatya doin?" is very robotic and stuff too. So can imagine. How sweet that she's learnt to say that!

I never cared if Merlin talked or not but it's so adorable knowing that he's picked up on meanings! 'Nanight' when he's sleepy. 'Whatya doin?' when he's being ignored/can't see us. etc. It's wonderful. After his first phrase he's picked things up more readily from then.

Wonder what more she'll pick up now!

 

[HalfInsane]

Haha! Love the description. Merlin's "whatya doin?" is very robotic and stuff too. So can imagine. How sweet that she's learnt to say that!

I never cared if Merlin talked or not but it's so adorable knowing that he's picked up on meanings! 'Nanight' when he's sleepy. 'Whatya doin?' when he's being ignored/can't see us. etc. It's wonderful. After his first phrase he's picked things up more readily from then.

Wonder what more she'll pick up now!

I'm definitely with you; I didn't get a bird because they can talk/was hoping she would. I know plenty of people who can talk just fine, don't need my bird to talk, too . Having said that its very endearing. And if she picks up more phrases I'd be thrilled. But if not I don't mind.

And that's so cute Merlin speaks in context! I wouldn't mind if Pixel said "Whatchya doin'?" when she couldn't see me... generally, if I'm out of her sight it's because I'm in the kitchen. So she beeps like the microwave to get my attention. It was funny at first. Though now she just beeps the entire time I'm making supper! Oh well, that's life with a parrot for you

What about whistles that sound like words? Rio does this one sound that sounds exactly like a cockatiel, but now I am wondering if she is trying to say her name. She makes the same sound in two different tones, both sounds like she is saying her name. Is that possible?

Hmm. I don't know. Maybe! Try saying her name back to her when she does the whistle? perhaps she'll pick it up .

I can't whistle myself haha, so Pixel can't whistle either (though I have a friend who is determined to teach her to wolf whistle). So I'm not the best person to ask.

 

[Mayden]

Haha! Love the description. Merlin's "whatya doin?" is very robotic and stuff too. So can imagine. How sweet that she's learnt to say that!

I never cared if Merlin talked or not but it's so adorable knowing that he's picked up on meanings! 'Nanight' when he's sleepy. 'Whatya doin?' when he's being ignored/can't see us. etc. It's wonderful. After his first phrase he's picked things up more readily from then.

Wonder what more she'll pick up now!

I'm definitely with you; I didn't get a bird because they can talk/was hoping she would. I know plenty of people who can talk just fine, don't need my bird to talk, too . Having said that its very endearing. And if she picks up more phrases I'd be thrilled. But if not I don't mind.

And that's so cute Merlin speaks in context! I wouldn't mind if Pixel said "Whatchya doin'?" when she couldn't see me... generally, if I'm out of her sight it's because I'm in the kitchen. So she beeps like the microwave to get my attention. It was funny at first. Though now she just beeps the entire time I'm making supper! Oh well, that's life with a parrot for you

What about whistles that sound like words? Rio does this one sound that sounds exactly like a cockatiel, but now I am wondering if she is trying to say her name. She makes the same sound in two different tones, both sounds like she is saying her name. Is that possible?

Hmm. I don't know. Maybe! Try saying her name back to her when she does the whistle? perhaps she'll pick it up .

I can't whistle myself haha, so Pixel can't whistle either (though I have a friend who is determined to teach her to wolf whistle). So I'm not the best person to ask.

Haha! Microwave beeps are one of Merlins favourties too. If he hears us clattering with plates or anything in the kitchen he starts beeping - he knows there's food about! I love our sennies!

What else does she do? I love their noises!

 

[SoCalWendy]

If I say R I O after she starts with her tiel sound, she does it over and over and over again. lol so that's what makes me wonder if she is mimicking me saying her name.

 

[HalfInsane]

Haha! Microwave beeps are one of Merlins favourties too. If he hears us clattering with plates or anything in the kitchen he starts beeping - he knows there's food about! I love our sennies!

What else does she do? I love their noises!

Hmm... She kind of goes through phases where she'll get really hung up making a certain sound, then she'll learn a new one and forget the old one! Lol. As I'd said, she does the gargling drain sound (she's incredibly good at it), "Woop Woop weeeee!" (Mario sound), she also just says "Weeeee", and "woooooo!". She beeps like both the microwave and the smoke detectors when the batteries get low. She does a smoochy sound, clucks like a chicken, copies the chickadees she hears outside (you know, the "cheeseburger" Chickadee call). She also makes a bubble popping sound. For a while she could whistle a little tune she picked up from when my dad visited, but she's since forgotten. I think that's it!

What does Merlin have in his sound-copying repertoire?