• Question: How are parrots able to talk because they don't have lips that they can move, like humans. I understand how they might be able to say some words, but not letters like 'B' or 'M'

    Asked by iamthellamaking to Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 20 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 20 Jun 2012:


      Unlike humans, birds don’t use lips, larynx or teeth to make sound as they have none of these!

      Instead they use a vocal device called the syrinx This is a muscular, y-shaped structure located at the base of the trachea (in the throat), where the windpipe meets the lungs.

      Each branch of the syrinx has a moveable valve, and the valves can work independently. This allows birds such as the parrot to be able to make very complex sounds, such as mimicking human speech (including letters like b or m) – even without lips!

    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 22 Jun 2012:


      They are excellent mimics but they are not talking in the same way we do.

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