Many of you will be aware of a group of African Grey Parrots for one very naughty reason – they’re foul language!
The famous five, as they’ve now been named, have caused quite a stir worldwide simply because they can’t help themselves. They often tell staff and the public to “Go Away” in a less-than-polite manner.
So, for those who this news has escaped and those who are curious about these mischievous marvels, read on to find out about our famous swearing parrots.
Where can I see the Five Swearing Parrots?
Right here at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in Friskney, near Skegness. They’re in our two main aviaries – one near our beloved walkthrough area and the other near the Rainforest Diner.
Why Do The Parrots Swear?
Contrary to belief, they didn’t learn to swear from keepers here at the park. As we’re a parrot sanctuary – the largest in the UK – we take in birds and animals from a pet background, and the birds come to us with already learned behaviour.
In the wild, parrots mimic sounds that they hear and each other. Pet birds typically mimic radios, TVs, and owners. When they say something funny or, in this case, naughty, owners will likely react, usually by laughing. This brings the birds joy and means they’ll do it repeatedly for fun and attention.
What are the Swearing Parrots?
The swearing parrots are a group of five African Grey Parrots famous for their potty mouths.
African Greys are sometimes known as the Congo grey parrot, African grey parrot, or Congo African grey parrot.
Why were the Swearing Parrots Separated?
The five birds didn’t actually live together until they came to the park; they all came in at the same time and stayed in our quarantine area known as ARRC (Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre)
During this time, they each displayed their foul language skills and spent much of their days telling each other where to go, so to speak.
Once their quarantine period was over, they went to live in one of our colonies. It was hoped that some of the older residents would dilute their language. However, this had the opposite effect, and many more inhabitants were influenced to use this new language, which made visitors giggle. We now have a total of 8 full time swearers.
To try and remedy this, as we are a family venue, after all, the five birds were split between two colonies.
Do They Still Swear?
Absolutely! They’re still as foul-mouthed as ever; it’s just a little more diluted these days.
Are They Happy?
The famous five are all perfectly happy in their flocks and are always learning new tricks to get a chuckle.
Why are the Swearing Parrots so Famous?
We don’t really know how these five became so famous. We made a social media post or two about them, and the news agencies picked up the story. It’s been running for several years now all over the world.
They have been featured on NBC News, CBC News, and publications in China, Germany, the UK, America, and many more.
For this reason, they’ve also become known as the Cussing Parrots or Cursing Parrots in many publications in the US.
Can I see the Swearing Parrots?
Yes. We’re open to the public 7 days a week, except Christmas and New Year. You can find out how to visit the swearing parrots and our other residents here.