Tips for teaching birds how to talk

[Eggburt Dobson]

So I've had my cockatiel for a little over a year now and he was just a baby when I got him. He is very bonded with me and can be very vocal as he chirps on his own. However, I've been trying to teach him new simple tunes to whistle and I've been repeating simple words to him over and over trying to get him to repeat them, but he just doesn't seem interested. Any tips on things I can do to help him learn?

 

[sunnysmom]

Cockatiels aren't known to be great talkers. I had a male and once, and only once, I thought I heard him say something- and then wondered if I imagined it. LOL. You may have more luck working on tunes. I think repetition is the best way. Just keep whistling to him or you can find some videos on youtube, etc. And if he does say something or whistle something, do positive reinforcement. For my birds, they like(d) praise and attention a lot for doing something.

 

[Eggburt Dobson]

Thank you @sunnysmom I'll keep that in mind!

 

[expressmailtome]

Are you sure that you have a male? Most female cockatiels never talk or whistle.

 

[Eggburt Dobson]

@expressmailtome The place I got him from didn't know his gender. I just assumed male because he does whistle a lot, just not the tunes I try to teach him

 

[Peachfaced]

Neither of my birds know how to say much (doesn't bug me either way) but I do think it's funny when they pick up on sounds. Start with easy things like clicks and kissing noises or copy the noises your bird makes. Just make it a game to "talk birdy" to him/her, and encourage the bird when it happens.