10 Amazing Parrots Whose True Stories Are Stranger Than Fiction

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Amazing parrots are famous for their bright colors and their ability to mimic several words and phrases. But there is a world of spectacular intelligence, unexpected behavior, and inspiring heroism beyond them. The following stories about these remarkable birds show how much more complex our fine feathered friends actually are. Whether they’re saving lives or outsmarting humans, their real-life exploits are often weirder and more epic than anything you could make up.

These stories show that these intelligent birds are off the charts in terms of caginess, all the way to acts of loyalty and bond, but the mysteries these accounts unfold leave us even more perplexed about the unique quirks of the animal kingdom. This article takes a journey through ten incredible, unbelievable stories of talented parrots from the world over. Prepare to encounter an expletive-spewing gang of birds, a feathered savior, a master of deceit, and a romantic who had a fling with a smart speaker. These funny parrot stories and acts of courage will make you love the birds even more.

1. The Foul-Mouthed Flock: How 5 Parrots Shut Down a Zoo Exhibit

In 2020, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in the UK received five new African grey parrots: Billy, Eric, Tyson, Jade, and Elsie. They were all adopted at similar times and quarantined together. Unfortunately, living in proximity to one another exposed both to some bad habits.

It turned out that the five brilliant and amazing parrots had become a gang of sorts and taught one another an impressive vocabulary of curse words, zookeepers soon determined. As soon as they were moved back into the main outdoor aviary, they made no bones about it. They started yelling curses and insults to passersby, all to the amazement and delight of the crowd.

Five African Grey parrots in a zoo exhibit with curse words in speech bubbles, shocking a zookeeper and visitors, illustrating the story of the foul-mouthed parrot gang.

Steve Nichols, the park’s chief executive, said the parrots were laughing at the shocked reactions to their foul language, which only made them swear more. These clever birds would swear at one visitor and then burst into laughter again, perpetuating a chain of bad behavior that went viral. It was one of the funniest parrot stories from a zoo. Even though tons of guests had a laugh with the swearing parrots, the zoo staff started to get worried about the effect on younger children.

It was decided the five feathered offenders would be removed from public display hastily. The park’s solution was to break up the gang and give each parrot a home in a separate, better-behaved flock. The idea was that the misbehaving birds could pick up more natural parrot sounds from their new friends, rather than honking out more dirty-mouthed tirades. The staff had faith that littering the children’s environment with good examples would eventually scale back the swearing. cbsnews

This one-of-a-kind approach to “rehabilitation” illuminates just what social creatures these gifted parrots are and how quickly they can learn from each other… for good or for bad! Said story of the potty-mouthed parrots will always be a testament to how these feathered geniuses can find themselves in the most bizarre set of hilarious circumstances.

2. The Lifesaving Hero Parrot: Bird’s Cry Saves a Choking Toddler

Denver, Colorado: Colorado (CNN) A green Quaker parrot named Willie made an unlikely hero when his cries saved a life. Back in 2009, teacher Megan Howard was babysitting a toddler, Hannah, owned by Willie. While Megan left the living room for a moment, Hannah choked on part of her breakfast. The little girl could not talk, and her face began to turn blue. With silent panic, the little one began to realize as she looked at Willie. The little green parrot started flapping and squawking the only two words he knew: “Mama baby!” He repeated it again and again as he became more urgent.

A heroic green Quaker amazing parrots named Willie alerts a family by shouting "MAMA BABY!" as a toddler chokes in the background, a pivotal moment in the life-saving story.

It was no ordinary squawk; it was a loud and frantic call. Willie is an amazing parrot hero who saved the life of a child with his fast thinking. His are the actions that demonstrate that raptors not only are ferociously smart but also are quick to get the context of things and can even react when the stakes are high. Megan heard Willie’s shouts and wheeled back into the room.

Finding Hannah choking, she quickly administered the Heimlich maneuver, clearing the obstruction from the toddler’s airway and saving her life. If the parrot hadn’t spoken, it could have been a tragedy. Megan had taught Willie to say “Mama, baby” when Hannah was near, but she never thought he would save someone else’s life with the words. Willie was awarded the Animal Lifesaver Award by the Red Cross chapter in his city for his courageous deed.

The heartwarming tale won over hearts across the country, proving the strong connection that can form between pets and humans. Willie’s tale is a strong reminder that talented parrots are so much more than just a parrot-like copycat; they are thoughtful, caring individuals who have the potential of becoming truly parrot heroes when the chips are down. His courage has only served to cement his status as a winged guardian angel.

3. The Great Deceiver: The Parrot Who Duped Firefighters

Firefighters in Davie, Florida, are no strangers to arriving on the scene of any and every kind of emergency, but an emergency call in 2019 took them to a particularly unique culprit. The next-door neighbor, hearing an alarm from a smoke detector ringing and ringing, called 911. A full crew was sent out, assuming they were headed to a fire. When they arrived, however, they were greeted by homeowner Larry sitting calmly outside tinkering on his car, completely unfazed by any alarm.

When the firefighters brought him up to speed, Larry just laughed. He told them he knew who the “culprit” was and disappeared inside to fetch him. He came back with Cuckoo, his 40-year-old yellow-naped Amazon parrot. They barely stepped outside before Cuckoo had perfectly reproduced the sound of a smoke alarm, and mystery solved. This little jaunt proved to be one of the funniest parrot stories, as well as one that demonstrated just how impressive the vocal abilities of these intelligent birds are. Larry said that he taught Cuckoo to imitate the smoke alarm years ago as a trick.

An African Grey parrot on a windowsill mimics a fire alarm with a 'BEEP! BEEP!' speech bubble, successfully deceiving firefighters who are visible outside the window.

The parrot was no ordinary parrot, and being one of the cleverest parrots you could hope to meet, he’d just about got the sound right, and he’d taken to making it every time he was bored or he wanted some attention. The feathered prankster left the firefighters shaking their heads after being initially ready for something more serious. They recorded a video of Cuckoo making the alarm cry, which they posted to their social media accounts, where it went viral.

The break-in was nothing more than a gentle false alarm, but it has gone down in history as quite possibly the funniest public service message about the extraordinary feats performed by amazing parrots. Cuckoo’s tale is a prime example of the intelligence and talents of their lovely voices being able to create confusing, but ultimately hilarious situations, showing that you can’t always trust what you hear, especially with a parrot around.

4. The Flying Filmmaker: New Zealand’s Kea Parrot and the Missing GoPro

The Verheul family was on a hike in the stunning Fiordland National Park in New Zealand in 2022 when they met one of the region’s most infamous inhabitants: a Kea parrot. Kea are famous scamps: They’re really smart, curious, and bold, a mischievous combo. Then, as the family got ready to move on, they put their GoPro camera down for a minute. Opportunistic, a Kea dove and plucked the camera up in its beak and flew away. Not surprisingly, the family stood in awe as the bird of prey flew away with their device.

A bold Kea parrot flies with a stolen GoPro camera over a stunning New Zealand fjord, while the family of tourists who own it watch in amazement from below.

Kea parrots are popular for their curiosity and have been known to nibble on, and sometimes pinch, the belongings of tourists, including sandwiches and wallets. But this one bird, it had other designs. It wasn’t just a thief; it was going to be a filmmaker. This meeting led to a unique video and so becomes here a tale. The Kea didn’t travel far. It put down nearby, then did some exploratory pecking before dropping the GoPro, the camera still rolling. When the Verheul family got their camera back, they found an image that was quite remarkable.

The parrot had recorded its escape effort from beginning to end, including some stunning aerial scenery of the alpine landscape as it flew for freedom. The video, which spread quickly online, provided a literal bird’s-eye view of one of New Zealand’s most scenic spots. The thieving Kea’s is a tribute to the inquisitive and daring nature of these amazing parrots. It’s a great story of how a seemingly random brush with wildlife can lead to an unforgettable Kenyan adventure, courtesy of one of the world’s most accomplished parrots unwittingly making a Hollywood movie.

5. The Lookout Bird: The Parrot “Arrested” for Aiding Drug Dealers

When police in Teresina, Brazil, carried out a raid on a suspected drug den in 2019, they encountered an unusual foe. The burglars had an extremely efficient if low-tech security system in place: a pet parrot. This bird had been taught to be a sentinel. When it saw officers in the area, it would yell out a specific phrase used by its owners: “Mamãe, a polícia!” which is screamed in Danish, “Mama, politi!” The officers’ original approach was spoiled by the parrot’s loud warnings, and the suspects had time to prepare or flee.

A lookout parrot warns its criminal owners of a police raid, shouting 'Mamãe, a polícia!!' from a window as police with flashing lights approach the house at night.

This feathered intermediary was, it turns out, quite good at what it was doing evidence of the way in which intelligent birds can be conditioned to address even the most challenging of problems. This one had been putting its abilities to criminal use. The bizarre lookout made this a story that couldn’t fail to travel around the world. When officers eventually succeeded in raiding the premises, they “arrested” the lookout parrot along with its two human co-conspirators. At the police station, the bird sang sullenly and would say nothing; it kept up its stubborn silence.

But despite the officers’ efforts to get it to talk, the parrot would not squawk and turned out to be a difficult nut to crack, more so than many human suspects. The tale of the felonious parrot was a media sensation. In the end, officials determined the bird had to be let off the hook for its behavior. Instead of going to jail, the parrot was given to a local zoo to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. This story about a parrot is just one of the funny, weird, amusing, strange, baffling, ludicrous, and downright odd parrot stories of how marvelous parrots are employed for both what is good for society, and in this case bad and criminal!

6. The Pop Star Parrot: Chico the Singing Sensation

Chico is a yellow-crowned Amazon parrot who lives at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, and he shot to internet fame recently when a video of him singing went viral. In 2020, his rendition of Beyoncé’s hit “If I Were a Boy” went viral, but it’s not like his outros are always videos of him performing. It is a really good cover we had no idea we needed, tbh. Visitors were left open-mouthed when the parrot struck up the opening bars of the song in pitch-perfect clarity.

What Chico was doing was not a fluke. He plays his pop repertoire, which also includes tunes by Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, for park visitors. What sets him apart from a lot of other talking birds is his capacity to mimic complex melodies, not just words. He is easily one of the most incredible parrots on the planet that has stolen the hearts of millions through YouTube. His talent to mimic songs has turned him into the park’s star performer.

An Internet Star is Hatched

Chico’s performances have been watched by millions of people on social media platforms, and he has become a global sensation. People all over the country check in from time to time to see what the new theme of his song will be. Keepers say that Chico enjoys the attention he receives and will put on a good show when people are around.

Chico’s story is a happy demonstration of what these clever birds can do. And his singing lifts people’s spirits and also is a resourceful and would-be portrayal of a parrot’s personality. A musical genius, the amazing Chico shows that he’s more than just a parrot that talks he can croon his way to stardom as well, and that makes him the star of one of the funniest and most uplifting funny parrot stories in recent history.

7. The Speech Therapist: Parrot Leaves a Coma Victim With a Vocabulary

The bond between pet and owner can be strong, but the tale of Rudy Wighill and his African grey parrot, Barney, is testament to how it can change lives, too. When he had a stroke and lost the power of speech, Rudy, of Oregon, couldn’t go on. Through his long, challenging, and sometimes frustrating recovery, he discovered an unexpected source of therapy and inspiration from his feathered friend.

Barney would spend hours sitting by Rudy repeating words and phrases that Rudy had taught him before his stroke, simple affirmations like, “I love you” and “I’m here.” The familiar sound of the parrot, and the familiar words, were comfortable for sure, but it also did something amazing. It lighted a fire in Rudy’s brain. This heartwarming story about one of the world’s sweetest parrot heroes betrays an emotional intelligence that we can only dream to attain.

An African Grey parrot acts as a speech therapist, saying "I love you" to its owner in a hospital bed, helping him recover his ability to speak after a stroke.

As with a baby responding to his first words, Rudy, who was devoted to his faithful companion, began to parrot Barney. The short, repeated phrases of the parrot acted as a verbal map, aiding Rudy’s brain in charting new courses for speech. Maybe it was his offbeat speech therapist Barney, but eventually Rudy began to speak again. His doctors were astounded and credited the bird’s special connection for the breakthrough.

This heartwarming tale is evidence that the genius of talented parrots is so much more than just being able to talk the talk. They can be a vital part of healing and recovery, demonstrating compassion and support in ways we are only beginning to understand. Barney is one of the great avian heroes, showing that the best medicine can also have feathers!

8. The Lost-and-Found Parrot Who Knew His Postman’s Name

When an African grey parrot named Basil disappeared from his home in North London in 2012, his owner was heartbroken. Three long days had gone, and there was no sight of the bird. In the meantime, there was a friendly postman called Denis who was doing his rounds when he heard a voice saying, “Denis!” from high up in a tree. He paid no attention to it at first, but the voice spoke again.

Up there, he saw Basil on a branch. The postman was stunned. He knew the neighborhood was searching for a lost parrot, but he never imagined the parrot would know his name. As it happens, Basil knew Denis’s name from hearing his owner who lived near the postbox say goodbye to the postman every morning before work. It was this miracle of memory by one of the world’s intelligent birds that was instrumental in this audacious rescue.

A surprised postman in a red uniform looks up at a lost African Grey parrot named Basil perched in a tree on a London street, depicting the moment the bird was found.

Denis said he called Basil’s owner, who came right away. Wiggling came down from the tree, and the search was over, an ending far better than its beginning. What got Basil back safely in the end, though, was his uncanny knack of remembering and using a name at the right time.

This story is a delightful demonstration of the brilliance of amazing parrots. They don’t just hear sounds; they listen to their environment, make associations, and can use that information when they need it most. It’s one of the most heartwarming funny parrot stories of a missing pet, and it’s all thanks to a friendly postman and a parrot who has a great memory for names.

9. The Bin-Opening Gangs: Australia’s Marauding Cockatoos

SYDNEY, Australia In the suburbs of Sydney, residents are locked in a game of wits with some of the smartest intelligent birds on the planet: sulphur-crested cockatoos. These big, noisy, and super talented parrots have sussed out how to lift the plastic lids of the trash cans at people’s homes and feed on the food waste within. This isn’t just some random action; it’s a learned behavior that has spread across the cockatoo population like a viral phenomenon.

Scientists have investigated this behavior and have found the birds learned the trick by observing one another. It’s a kind of social learning that is seldom recorded quite so vividly in the wild. One bird discovers the multi-step process prying open the lid with its beak, walking around the edge to turn it upside down and soon, other birds in the flock are doing it as well. These brilliant birds have transformed dumpster diving into a science.

A gang of intelligent sulphur-crested cockatoos works together to raid a green trash bin on an Australian suburban street, showcasing their clever food-finding skills.

And they’ve prompted a kind of “arms race” between the cockatoos and the people who live there. Residents have even begun coming up with their own homemade remedies for keeping lids on bins secure and protected, such as bricks weighing down the lids or using strings to hold them in place. In return, the endlessly clever cockatoos are already working on finding their way around these new barriers.

This interesting battle of wits emphasizes the impressive ability to adapt and problem-solve of these talented parrots. Not only are they surviving in an urban environment, but they are thriving by out-thinking the humans at every opportunity. And the continuing story of the bin-opening cockatoos provides a live experiment in animal innovation and a powerful study in how incredible parrots persevere in a changing world.

10. The Digital Romantic: The Parrot in Love with Google Assistant

In a tale that could only happen in the tech-saturated world of today, a budgie parrot named Gucci developed a most improbable bond with a Google Assistant smart speaker. His human, Ben Hamm, observed Gucci keeping residence by the machinery, sweetly chirping at it constantly. The little bird soon began to engage directly with it.

A video of Gucci activating the speaker by precisely mimicking “Hey Google” was filmed by Ben. The smart speaker would make noise in its typical automated female voice, and Gucci would coo and chirp back in exuberance and affection. The little parrot seemed to have fallen in love with the digital assistant. This is one of the most absurd and hilarious parrot tales to have come out of the time of A.I.

A cute budgie parrot affectionately interacts with a smart speaker, saying "Hey Google!" and illustrating a funny love story between a pet and modern technology.

Gucci was so enamored by the smart speaker, he would even get jealous of it. When his owner attempted to consult the Google Assistant, the parrot occasionally gave his finger a nip, as if trying to defend his digital love. Gucci’s videos of their interactions went viral, winning hearts around the world.

This is a screwball kind of story that explores how extra smart birds can yearn for socialization in all sorts of unusual ways. Lonely, Gucci became attached to the only “female” who would talk back to him. This love story of one of our favorite amazing parrots and a gadget is a wacky, feel-good testament to the fact that love has no limits.

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