do parrots just mimick or do they know what they are saying, you decied! one of my b&g macaws knows everyone in the house by name and some of our friends names too. he knows basic colors, and asks for his favorites by name, "wanna pine nut, nana, wana nana". when i'm going out he asks, "store, eens ( genes ) and "drive", even "van, ruck ( truck ), then it's "go, wana go, van, go drive van", and if i say that i will be rite back he says "wana go, i sing" then he starts to sing his song, "hopping puppy you're the one" and so he goes on, ( the tune of rubber ducky ). he likes to get the change at the store to play with. i have many macaws, most do talk somewhat, but not like orion. i could go on but you decied...so, mimick, is that not how we all learn to speak! - mrmacaw -