Ok, this was posted before, I thought I would cut and paste Syl's story here. :P Hope you enjoy it.
One of my Macaws I had when i lived in the US was a semi rescue. His previous owners could no longer take care of him, and gave him to a exotic bird store to find a happy home for. He was slightly aggressive at first. took him three days just to step up to my fingers. I refused to force him to step up, and let him warm up to me. After taht he was a charmer, and had a wonderful vocabulary. His favorite words were shut up, and step up, and Aloha - which he said with wonderful enthusiasm. His name was Sylvester, he was a Hahn's Macaw. Just a little bigger then some conures, but he was 100% Macaw.
The funniest story was when I went to the post office to pick something up, it was his turn to go for a car ride - which he loved dearly. While in the long line, there was a lady in her mid twenties with two very loud, spoiled, undisciplined children with her. They were running around yelling and screaming at each other, running through the lines - you get the picture.
No one would say anything to them or the parent. for fear of geting a load of verbal abuse back from her.
Well after about 15 minutes, Syl had enough, and said - in a VERY loud macaw tone; "Shut Up ... Bad Girl, Bad Girl". ( THe bad girl was a phrase he learned from Athena, my Blue and GOld Macaw.)
Well, let me tell you, she spun around, and saw Syl glaring at her... The Postal employees stood mouth agape staring at Syl and myself, and the rest of the people in line were doing the same.
There was a uncomfortable silence as the children clung to their mothers legs - either in fright or amazement. Then it happened, Syl turned his back on her and started laughing.
Well, needless to say so did everyone else!!! Postal employees, customers, Syl and myself.
The lady was dead quiet, and couldnt believe that a bird told her children off - how can you yell back at a bird?
Everyone else was satisfied - they wanted to say the same thing - but we were not brave enough.
Next time someone tells you birds only "parrot" or repeat bnack phrases is probably wrong. I ahve had two birds that actually knew when and how to use language, and would even hold minor conversations wtih you. :)