Budgie parakeets > Talking birds > Double Yellow Head Parrot

Double Yellow Head Parrot

Throughout the United States this is undoubtedly the most popular of all species of parrots, and is generally rated fully equal in intelligence and ability to the African Gray.

There seems to be quite a difference, however, in individuals, as some of these birds will begin talking before they are feathered out, while others do not commence until they are six to eight months old. If, the teaching of these birds begins when they are young they will usually learn to talk very readily and become quite fluent.

Their voice is soft, melodious and more like that of human beings. If properly handled they soon become tame, nice pets, and are apt in imitating peculiar sentences or witty sayings which they hear. This bird's voice has a variety of tones, and it is frequently called the "operatic star", owing to,its natural gift of song, and its voice being so clear and ringing. It quickly learns popular airs and sings them with surprising ability, sometimes passing from one song to another so as to make a medley.

The bird is of large size when full grown, measuring from twelve to fifteen inches, of beautiful dark green color with bright red and some blue feathers on the edges of the wings and tail. On the top of the head there is a spot of yellow or orange color, which, as the bird grows older, gradually spreads over the head, so that on a bird one year old it is about one-half inch below the eye, and by the time the bird is four or five years old the entire head and upper part of the neck, is a bright yellow, thus giving it a showy and, some think, venerable appearance. The feet and beak are usually white, and the tongue varies in color, in same specimens being white, while in others it is black and sometimes spotted.

The Double Yellow Head Parrot is often called "the human talker", as they do not only talk; but laugh, cry and sing, and really seem more human than any other variety, and therefore are idolized by various clubs and associations, where they are considered as "mascots," as well as on shipboard, in the navy, and in homes everywhere. Some of these birds are said to have a vocabulary of 200 sentences.
One lady writes about her parrot: "Her laugh is quite extraordinary, so it is impossible to help joining in it one's self, more especially when in the midst of it she cries out, `Don't make me laugh so, for I shall certainly die,' and then continues laughing more violently than before, sometimes changing it to a cry, sobbing very pathetically. If you say, `Poor Polly, what is the matter?' she answers, `So bad, so bad, got a bad cold.' After crying for some time she sometimes ceases, and making the noise like drawing a long breath, says, `Better now,' and begins to laugh."

The voice of the Double Yellow Head parrot being naturally softer, they are not so apt to imitate the harsh, gruff voices, or profanity which they might hear. Of all the hundreds of parrots which the writer has owned he has never seen one which uttered oaths. We have, however, known parrots to call the dog and then mew like a cat, so as to set the neighboring dogs to barking.