Talking parrots make excellent pets thanks to their high intelligence level. This is because, besides providing companionship, they are a great source of amusement, offering hours of entertainment. Now, when considering buying a talking parrot, one question that may come to mind is, “How much does a talking parrot cost?”.
The price of the best-talking parrot may range from $10 for a Budgerigar to $18,000 for Macaws. These prices vary because of factors such as species mutation, age, talking ability, and bird size. Typically, larger, younger, and rare species mutations are utterly pricey than their smaller and older counterparts.
But how much is a talking parrot compared to a non-talking parrot? In this guide, we will compare the prices of the best-talking birds and the various factors that affect their costs.
How Much Is A Talking Parrot? In-Detail Discussion
Their price can range from as little as $10 to as high as several thousand dollars. Generally, the price highly depends on the type of parrot you buy, its age, size, and where you buy it from. So, check out the approximate costs of the best-talking parrots in the table below.
| Type of Talking Parrot | Estimated Cost Per Bird | Approximate Vocabulary |
|---|---|---|
| African Gray | $500-$4,000 | 700-1,000 or more |
| Budgerigar | $10-$40 | Over 500 words |
| Amazon Parrot | $1,000-$3,000 | 100-300 words and phrases |
| Macaws | $1,000-$18,000 | 50-300 words |
| Indian Ringneck Parakeet | $400-$1,500 | Over 250 words |
| Eclectus Parrot | $600-$3,000 | Up to 250 words |
| Cockatiel | $80-$300 | Up to 90 words |
| Quaker Parrots | $250-$500 | 50-60 words |
Moving on, here is a discussion of the best-talking parrots and their prices.
1. African Gray Parrot
This is among the best-talking birds in the parrot family. It can learn from 700 to 1,000 words or more throughout its lifetime. The bird can also speak sentences in the correct context. In terms of pricing, this bird costs between $500 and $4,000 depending on its age, species, gender, and appearance.
2. Budgerigars (Budgies)
Generally, male budgies are better talkers than females. They have a vocabulary of up to 500 words or more. There is even a budgie that has been recorded using over 1,700 words. However, because of their small size and fame, these birds cost $10 on the lower end and $40 on the higher end.
3. Amazon Parrot
Like the African Gray parrot, this bird can talk and sing with exceptional clarity. The Yellow-Naped and blue-fronted species have the overall best talking abilities. Both species can learn 100 to 300 words. With this in mind, the bird costs between $1,000 and $3,000.
4. Macaws
These birds can mimic words, sounds, and whole sentences with exceptional accuracy. However, the blue and gold species learn phrases more quickly and easily than others. They can grasp between 50 and 300 words or phrases, and their prices range from $1,000 to $18,000.
5. Indian Ringneck Parakeet
The Indian Ringneck is an overly intelligent bird, capable of speaking very clearly in sentences. As it turns out, it can learn over 250 different words and phrases. Consequently, the price of a single bird may range from $400 to $1,500 depending on its color or species rarity.
6. Eclectus Parrots
These parrot species are highly brilliant. As such, they may start talking from when they are 3 months old and learn up to 250 words throughout their lifetime. Regarding pricing, you may spend between $600 and $3,000 for the most common Eclectus parrot species.
7. Cockatiel
The vocabulary of this small gray bird is not as extensive as that of other birds like budgies and African grays. Even so, this bird can learn up to 90 words in two years. The cost per bird is from $80 to $300.
8. Quaker Parrots
While these birds are not at the absolute top of talking parrots, they are quick to learn words they hear in their surroundings. However, they only have a vocabulary of between 50 and 60 words. Consequently, their prices range between $250 and $500.
RELATED: How Much Do Quaker Parrots Cost
Factors That Affect the Price of Talking Parrots
How much a talking parrot costs depends on a range of factors. Examples of these factors are:
Species Mutations
When the mutation of a specific parrot species is rare, the price may go up. For example, a rainbow budgie, which is unique, can cost you up to $150. On the other hand, a blue budgie or green parakeet, which is common, costs about $30 each.
Gender
For some parrot species, such as the Budgerigars, the male is a better talker than the female. In this case, the male birds are relatively more expensive.
Age
It is easier to train parrots to talk when they are still young. Simply, younger birds have an easier time learning how to talk than their older counterparts. As such, they are more expensive.
Location
The prices of parrots also vary depending on your geographical location and where you buy the birds. For instance, if you live in a place where the parrot you are looking to purchase is readily available, you will get it at a lower price.
Conversely, you can get a talking parrot at an affordable price from an Animal rescue center than from a breeder or pet store. Also, breeders sell these birds cheaper than online sellers or pet stores.
Bird Size
One of the reasons the African Gray is more expensive than the budgie, yet both are good talkers, is their size. The budgie is smaller than the African Gray and Macaw hence its lower cost.
Comparing the Price of Talking Parrots to Non-Talking Parrots
Some parrots are less likely to talk and are generally not known for their talking ability. In most cases, they may only pick a few words or mimic some phrases. Simply, these birds cannot compete with the African Grays and budgies regarding vocabulary. Some of these birds include lovebirds, conures, and parrotlets.
Regarding pricing, most non-talking birds are relatively cheaper than their talking counterparts. For example, the Lovebirds cost between $20 and $200, whereas the Conure prices range from $200 to $800.
While these prices are lower than those of African Gray, Amazon parrots, and Macaws, they are higher than for budgies. This is because the size, color, sociality, etc., of the birds, also affect the prices of talking and non-talking birds. Compared to African Gray species, the non-talking parrots are smaller hence their affordable price tag.
Also Read: What Sound Does A Parrot Make
Conclusion
The best-talking parrots don’t cost the same because of factors like their mutations, age, bird size, location, and gender. Younger birds and those with rare mutations cost more. Similarly, larger-sized parrots bought from a pet store are also relatively more expensive than their smaller-sized counterparts.
So, the prices of these birds range from $10 on the lower end and $18,000 on the higher end. And the Budgerigar is the cheapest talking bird costing between $10 and $40. But when compared to non-talking birds, some species like the African Grey, Amazon parrot, and Macaws are pricier.
Hello, this is Frank Swanson, the owner, and operator of Pet Info Hut. I created this website as a way to share my love of pets with the world. I have over 7 years of experience working with animals, and I have a passion for helping people care for their pets. I hope that you find my website useful and informative. Thanks for visiting!
