Kept as cherished companions for centuries, it's no secret that the African Gray parrot is regarded as one of the most intelligent bird species on the planet. In fact, testing concludes that African Grays have intellects on par with human children!
The beautiful and captivating Macaw is indeed an intelligent bird. They often wow crowds with their remarkable ability to mimic speech and perform complex tricks. There are also smaller Macaws, such as the Yellow-Collared, Hahns, and Severe Macaws that are less recognized, but they share the personality and intellect of their larger counterparts.
Another genus of birds that all share equal intellectual capabilities is the intriguing Amazon parrot. Due to their supreme intelligence and talking ability, Amazon parrots have been kept as pets for many hundreds of years. Some Amazons learn to mimic speech so exactly that their words can barely be discerned from those of an actual human.
Known more for their endearing personalities than for their speaking abilities, Cockatoos are another type of bird that scores exceptionally high on intelligence tests. Bonding is so strong that leaving these birds alone often creates anxiety. Cockatoos should learn to play with toys on their own, so reasonable limits must be set on socializing.
The eye-catching Eclectus parrot is no slouch when it comes to brains. Like the other species discussed here, when properly trained using positive reinforcement techniques, they can be taught to talk, perform tricks, and perform tasks that make them excellent companions.
Budgerigars or Budgies pack a ton of intelligence, trainability, and personality into a tiny package. Not only can Budgies learn to talk as well as the larger parrots, but they can also be trained to perform a number of fun tricks that never fail to impress.
While the Indian Ringneck parrot or parakeet is not an expert at mimicking the human voice, this bird uses its own bird voice to capture mood and sentiment. Individuals have also been known to learn up to 250 words.
The Monk Parakeet or Quaker Parakeet is actually a small parrot. It is well known for its ability to build a large vocabulary of words and phrases. The more you verbally explain what you are doing around the cage, the more this bird will pick up on the names for things and learn how to mimics those words.