Colorful and tenacious, birds are the only pets that talk back! Most parrot owners love the sounds and songs that flow through their homes courtesy of their beaked lovelies. However, there can often be screams and shrieks mixed in with polite conversation.

The truth is that most parrot owners with "loudmouths" simply wouldn't have it any other way. They love the constant communication that reinforces the human-parrot bond. However, it's important to know what you're getting into before you take a tropical chatterbox home to make sure you don't lose sleep, upset your neighbors or ruin the peace in your home. Which parrots make the most noise? Take a look at the eight loudest parrots often kept as pets. One group on our list actually rivals the noise level of a 747 jet!

1. Macaws

The crowing of a macaw can be overwhelming if you're not expecting it! Many people assume that macaws are the loudest parrots simply because they're the biggest. However, many smaller parrots are actually much louder than macaws. That still doesn't mean a macaw can "lullaby' a baby to sleep! A typical macaw might belt out loud calls for nearly 30 minutes each morning and night.

Potential Noise Level: 105 decibels

2. Conures

Conures can conjure up screams that are powerful enough to create permanent hearing damage with prolonged exposure. The loudest parrots within the conure family are the Patagonian conure, the nanday conure and the sun conure. Screams can be especially common when conures don't feel they are getting the attention they need. A telltale sign that a conure is about to go off like an alarm is a series of little chirps that build up slowly.

Potential Noise Level: 120 decibels.

3. Amazon Parrots

Most people are drawn to Amazon parrots due to their superior speaking abilities. However, the chitchat can quickly escalate to screams with these smart and sassy birds. Amazon parrots do sometimes emit shrill screams. The good news is that Amazon parrots would much rather sing than scream. Most Amazon owners might never even hear a scream happen once. However, the potential for very loud and offensive screaming is there.

Potential Noise Level: 124 decibels.

4. Lories

Famed for their rainbow plumage, lories pack a big punch when it comes to showing off what their lungs can do. The good news for lovers of lories is that these parrots don't tend to scream unless they are excited over something. They are typically quiet and subdued between the occasional scream session! Of course, that can make the experience even more startling for humans.

Potential Noise Level: 90 decibels.

5. Caique Parrots

Caique parrots can get pretty noisy once they're all revved up. The very playful and vibrant nature of this parrot means that can happen pretty frequently. Caique parrots are often "class clowns." While this parrot doesn't have the loudest scream out there, the persistent nature of the noise can be taxing.

Potential Noise Level: 93 decibels.

6. Cockatoos

While the smaller size of a cockatoo may make this bird appear innocent, this parrot hides a big voice within a little body! In fact, cockatoos are generally credited with being the loudest of all parrot families! Their noise levels are nearly equivalent to the noise emitted by a 747 jet! Moluccan cockatoos are known to be especially thunderous.

Potential Noise Level: 135 decibels.

7. Eclectus Parrots

Known for their striking colors, eclectus parrots might win you over with the eyes before taking over your ears! This is generally a very smart, tranquil and friendly parrot when kept as a pet. Eclectus parrots are also great talkers. However, they sometimes make very startling vocalizations that can have you covering your ears in surprise. Eclectus parrots are known for producing a distinctive "honking sound" that can really startle a person!

Potential Noise Level: 115 decibels.

8. Rose-Ringed Parakeets (Indian Ringnecks)

While rose-ringed parakeets are chatty by nature, it's not the day-to-day talking of this parrot that's going to get you. Rose-ringed parakeets are known to belt out high-pitched screams that are pretty hard to tolerate when they become agitated. Fortunately, these screams usually come out when the birds are irked or teased by someone who may not know how to properly communicate with a parrot.

Potential Noise Level: 111 decibels.

Living With a Loud Parrot

When your parrot taps into its natural ability for intense vocalizations, some wild things can happen. Actual vocalization habits vary by bird. However, it's important to be prepared with an understanding of just how high some birds can go with their screams.

If you live in an environment where quiet time is essential, a bird with the capacity to rival the sounds of a jet may not be a good fit. As bird owners, it's pretty exciting to relish the fact that the same calls a bird is vocalizing to you are the ones he would use to keep contact with flock mates while soaring above lush, tropical canopies in the wild! Just keep that in mind the next time you feel tempted to hold those loud screeches against your feathered friend!

Loud screeching isn't always a sign that everything is normal with your bird. Keep in mind that factors like illness and injury can cause excessive screeching in birds. The bird is letting you know that it's feeling agitated or distressed. However, the most common cause of loud screeching is simply boredom. Most parrots need plenty of toys, activities and one-on-one attention to feel content. Make sure your parrot is getting what it needs if noise is becoming an issue out of the blue. If you want complete nutrition that makes your bird sing for their supper, discover Bird Street Bistro's line of tasty, organic parrot food!