Parrots are most famous for their voices and inclination to talk and mimic human speech.
When we are thinking of getting our first parrot, it is often the first thing we think about when choosing a species: can it talk?
What about rosella parrots?
Rosella parrots are not the biggest talkers. They might pick up a handful of basic words. For the most part, though, they just love to whistle and can pick up complex songs. They have the same vocal apparatus to talk—they just aren’t really inclined to mimic speech to this extent.
So, if you’re looking for a parrot that will talk a great deal and mimic a lot of what you say, then a rosella may not be the best choice.
That said, they are still more than capable of picking up words, and some will certainly speak more than others.
Let’s find out more.
Do rosella parrots talk?
They do, to a degree, but not very much.
In most cases, a rosella parrot left to its own devices might pick up a couple of words or maybe even a phrase here and there.
For the most part, though, they aren’t the big talkers that you come to expect from other species of parrot.
As I said, this is one of our most important associations when it comes to parrots—we expect them to talk.
The truth is, though, that the great bulk of parrot species really are not big talkers.
Rosella parrots are part of this group.
They can talk, they just don’t, really. I’ll get into why that might be shortly.
If you’ve been considering a rosella parrot, and you want a parrot that talks a lot, then rosella probably is not the best choice for you.
That said, the thing about parrots is that they are incredibly intelligent.
This means that every individual has their own unique personality, and personalities can differ a great deal.
Every rosella is different, in that sense.
So, you may end up with an outlier rosella parrot who does talk a lot.
After all, they do possess all the same internal apparatus that allows parrots to talk.
It’s just mostly down to their inclination to mimic human speech.
Most just would rather sing and whistle.
Why exactly is this, then?
Why don’t rosella parrots talk?
This is a reasonably complex question, so there are a number of angles we need to consider.
Firstly, why do parrots even talk in the first place?
Well, many bird species, even non-parrots, have the ability to perfectly mimic noises they hear in the wild.
This serves a variety of purposes depending on the species, as it could be for safety or for attracting or impressing a mate.
You have non-parrot mimics all over the world, such as the lyrebird and even the North American mockingbird.
They mimic sounds to communicate with one another, to impress mates, and much more.
But each species will still have specific kinds of sounds that it will mimic in the context of its own species.
This is the important point to remember.
Certain species will tend to mimic certain sounds.
So, rosella parrots possess all the internal organs they need to be able to mimic human speech in the same way all these other birds do.
So, why don’t they talk? Well, if you have a rosella parrot, then you’ll probably know that it does mimic other things it hears, being particularly good at whistling fairly elaborate tunes.
Rosellas in the wild tend to communicate with one another this way.
They sing and whistle, rather than mimicking noises they hear.
They might mimic the songs of other species, but it will more likely be a mishmash of various other songs.
So, when your rosella parrot comes home to you, even though it has never lived in the wild, they nonetheless possess the same natural instinct in terms of what they will mimic.
Thus, they end up mimicking songs and whistling them rather than mimicking your speech.
It’s really just simple biology, then.
They aren’t naturally inclined to speak or mimic speech, so they don’t do it very often, except for perhaps a few words here and there.
Can I get my rosella to speak, then?
How can I get my rosella parrot to talk?
My advice would be to go into rosella ownership under the assumption that your parrot won’t talk.
As I said, this is the most likely scenario, so it’s best to avoid disappointment this way.
You may have your heart set on a rosella parrot, but you may also really want it to talk.
Unfortunately, you just cannot guarantee this combination.
That said, it’s not impossible to help your rosella learn to talk a bit better than they might without any training.
But, again, it’s something of a coin toss whether it will work to your satisfaction.
It’s going to start with positive reinforcement, and it’s going to have to start from a very early age—as early as you possibly can.
The older the parrot gets, the less likely it is to want to talk.
Start from a young age and speak loudly and clearly to it—although don’t shout, they only have small ears!
When they seem to try to mimic you or do successfully, use something like a clicker and give them a treat.
This will start to build up the positive association in their minds, and they may start talking almost involuntarily.
This is one method, and it can work, but again, there is no guarantee whatsoever.
Your parrot might end up talking a lot, or it might just still be a singer and whistler no matter how much time you spent trying to teach it to talk.
Just be prepared for that.
Are rosella parrots loud?
On a more general level, then, rosella parrots are certainly loud.
They are well known for their screeching voices and indeed the loudness of their chewing.
They will usually be better if they’ve been well socialized, so it’s always vital to work with a reputable breeder.
By and large, all parrots are loud.
None of them are quiet.
Some are certainly much quieter than others, but throughout more or less all hours of the day they will be chirping and singing loudly and making a good deal of noise.
If you want a quiet pet, then any kind of parrot really isn’t for you.
But are they good pets?
Are rosella parrots good pets?
Yes, rosella parrots are great pets!
They are loving and attentive, they will form deep bonds with you and come to know you very well.
Even if they can’t talk, they still make great parrots in their own right, and some find their singing very beautiful and satisfying.
If the talking isn’t a deal breaker for you, then rosella parrots will make great household pets.
At what age do rosella parrots start talking?
This is another thing to consider. I mentioned it’s vital to start at a young age if you want to at least attempt to teach them to talk.
So, what age might you expect them to start talking?
Well, again, unfortunately, there’s really not much way to say for sure.
If they are going to become talkers, they will probably be at the peak of their ability by the time they’re around 1 year old.
They may of course continue to pick up new words long after that, but if they aren’t talking by a year old, then they probably won’t talk ever.
Can rosella parrots be tamed?
Yes, rosella parrots can be tamed—again, if it is done properly from the right age.
All parrots need to be tamed from the moment they hatch, otherwise you can have trouble taming them later in life.
This, again, is why it’s so important to buy from reputable breeders.
They will handle the most important part of the parrot’s development; from the point they hatch.
They will tame them and make sure they are acclimatized to human interaction.
This, though, really has no bearing on their ability or inclination to talk.
All parrots can be tamed to live indoors.
Rosella parrots are excellent little companions, then, but they aren’t the biggest talkers.
You may well end up with a particularly talkative rosella parrot, but for the most part, they just prefer to sing and whistle.
There are plenty of parrot species that will more reliably talk, so if talking is what you want out of your parrot, you should consider a different species.
Rosella parrots are great pets, and they will bond very deeply to you, but they just aren’t inclined to talk much.