Birds are fun-loving and cool companions to have. But we all know they like to make noise! Many birds are known for their very loud vocalizations.
Understanding which birds tend to be noisy and why they may squawk or scream is really important for potential owners. So, in this guide, we are going to check out some of the loudest bird species, their decibel levels, and why they may be loud in the first place!
1. Macaws
Macaws are some of the loudest pet birds, often reaching up to 100 decibels. They reach noise levels that have often been compared to a chainsaw or a rock concert. Yep, that’s pretty darn loud!
Their noise isn’t just loud, but it can also be really startling when it comes out of nowhere. In the wild, they use these squawks to communicate with their flock, establish their territory, or signal their presence to others. They are super social creatures. So, when they feel bored, anxious, or isolated, they tend to increase their noise levels to entertain or distract themselves.
To stop macaws from squawking excessively, it’s super important to provide lots of social interaction. Spending time with your macaw through training, play, and even conversation can really reduce any loneliness they may be experiencing.
Environmental enrichment, like toys that encourage foraging and climbing, is super important to keep them engaged. Regular routine, engagement, and lots of things to do can prevent these birds from being so loud!
2. Cockatoos
Cockatoos are popular pet birds because of their playful and affectionate nature. However, they can also be super loud, reaching up to 90 decibels. Known also for their emotional expressions, these cockatoos often squawk and scream to great levels when they’re seeking attention, excited, or feeling neglected. Because of their complex needs, they’re not recommended pets for first-time bird owners.
In fact, the sound of a cockatoo can be much louder than a vacuum cleaner, for comparison. This makes them most likely unsuitable birds for noise-sensitive households or apartments. To manage their noise levels, providing them with consistent attention and bonding time is important. You must engage with your bird through training, games, and social interaction to satisfy their emotional needs.
Training them to respond to different commands like “quiet” can be really effective. By relying on positive reinforcement (which involves associating a positive behavior with a reward), you can minimize your bird’s squawking and other desirable behaviors.
3. Amazon Parrots
Amazon parrots are fun-loving birds that are known for their lively personalities and impressive mimicry abilities. However, they are very loud birds, reaching up to 85 decibels. Their vocalizations can often reach levels that are similar to a lawnmower!
These birds may squeak in response to changes in their environment when playing or just as a form of communication with their owners and other birds. So, to help keep their noise to a minimum or stop it completely, you need to engage with them regularly. You can also encourage them to mimic quieter sounds rather than focus on police sirens, thunder, and fireworks through positive reinforcement.
4. African Grey Parrots
African grey parrots are known around the world for their intelligence and exceptional ability to speak. However, the downside is that their noise level can reach 75 decibels, which is about the same level as a dishwasher. While their noise levels may not make it to the decibel levels reached by macaws or cockatoos, their sounds can still be very high-pitched and piercing––especially when they catch their owners by surprise!
African greys can often scream when they feel bored, anxious, or neglected, using their noise as a way to express their feelings and draw attention. To stop any excessive noise from these big guys, it’s critical to provide them with mental stimulation and interactive toys to keep them engaged. A bored African grey parrot may scream, squawk, and even pluck its own feathers.
Puzzle toys that encourage foraging can occupy their mind and reduce any stress-related vocalizations. Regular training sessions can work wonders to reinforce quieter behavior. By establishing a consistent daily routine with your bird, you can help alleviate any anxiety, as they thrive on predictability! There are also plenty of DIY enrichment activities bound to engage your African grey parrot.
5. Eclectus Parrots
Eclectus parrots, while not as loud as some other pet parrots, can still be pretty loud, reaching up to 75 decibels. Their calls can be really high-pitched and sharp, usually when they’re feeling stressed or just looking for more attention.
As with the other birds on this list, to stop any excessive noise, you must implement a consistent daily routine that involves social interaction, play, and training. You also need to give them plenty of stimulating toys and activities that can keep them mentally engaged and reduce any boredom-related noise. Teaching them commands like “quiet” can be super helpful because they’re quick learners. Just back the command up with treats, and you’re good to go!
One last thing: make sure that they have enough social interaction either with humans or other birds. This can help reduce their feelings of loneliness and help them become much quieter. By giving them an enriching environment, you can enjoy the beauty and fun of eclectus parrots while keeping their noise to a minimum.
