[EE-BO]

Repetition is the key. The more you repeat something, the more likely the bird will mimic it over time.

Excitement helps too. Birds are good at picking up dirty words since they are usually uttered in a state of excitement.

Species makes a different as well. In parrots- the African greys and yellow napes make the best talkers. In macaws it is the Blue and Gold. Cockatoos are all good talkers, but none as good as the parrots I mentioned before.

Birds are very high maintenance pets that need routines and attention. That is why excited utterances are more easily picked up- it is as though you said them to the bird directly and they are words that clearly reflect high emotion (and thus a need for attention from others.)

I do not think birds ever understand the words they say. What they do understand is the result it gets them- and they will always say what gets them food/attention.

I only know all this because I worked at a bird store in high school and also had rescue birds at home during that time. It was an interesting phase in my life, but one I do not care to repeat.

In terms of temperment and friendliness, the best bird out there is the Umbrella Cockatoo. But they will scream the house down if they do not think they are getting the personal attention they deserve every day.

PS- For annoyance factor, I know a lady who has a yellow nape Amazon that can do a perfect imitation of her phone ringing. At least once a day she is called to the phone and it turns out the bird was making the noise. The bird's cage is right by the phone, and so he clearly learned the best way to capture the attention of his owner.

PPS- One funny story I have to share.

My grandparents had a Red-Headed Amazon parrot named Charlie for 30 years. When they first got him, they taught him to say "Hello Charlie!"

One night soon after they got him, they invited a couple over to the house who owned the local feed store. The man's name was Charlie.

When they came in the door, the parrot said "Hello Charlie!"

Charlie allegedly turned to my grandfather all bug-eyed and said, "Frank, that's the smartest bird I've ever seen!"