lincolnshire wildlife park

african grey parrot

Foul language - or should that be fowl language?

@JudyEv (353196)

Rockingham, Australia

February 5, 2024 5:54am CST

This is about an article published in 2020. The photo of an African grey parrot is ‘free to use’. African Grey parrots are supposed to be the most intelligent of the parrot species and are great mimics and talkers. Many birds that learn to talk pick up on swear words as quickly as children do. In 2020, five African greys arrived at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park. They all used foul/fowl language. When one would swear, visitors would gather round and laugh. Soon the birds were swearing and laughing at each other. However, it seemed that some of the other 200 African greys at the park were also picking up the habit. The five were placed well away from the public eye in the hope that they’d forget about swearing. I’m not that keen on cockatoos and parrots as they’re very noisy but it’s cute hearing them talking.

17 people like this

17 responses

@LadyDuck (474105)

• Italy

5 Feb 24

I am sure it was hilarious to hear them swearing and laughing. The poor parrots cannot know that is not appropriate.

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@LadyDuck (474105)

• Italy

5 Feb 24

@JudyEv Parrots always make me laugh, they are entertaining birds.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Feb 24

If you were there watching, there is no way you couldn't laugh at them.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (318816)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

5 Feb 24

It's always interesting when you hear them talk. It's too bad they learned to swear and kept it up because people laughed when they did.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Feb 24

It's a pity that people teach them to swear. There are plenty of other things they could be taught.

2 people like this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (318816)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

5 Feb 24

@JudyEv Yes, there are more things people could teach them.

2 people like this

@Marilynda1225 (84629)

• United States

5 Feb 24

I've heard stories about my grandmother having a parrot named Nora and from what I heard Nora had quite the vocabulary. It is cute hearing them talk but the squawking can be pretty noisy. It's pretty funny hearing all those birds swearing and laughing at each other.

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@Marilynda1225 (84629)

• United States

6 Feb 24

@JudyEv I'd be laughing so hard I'd be the

one encouraging them

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

Watching them swearing then laughing, you'd be really hard put not to laugh at them but of course that encourages them even more. I wonder if they'll forget in time.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Feb 24

@Marilynda1225 I'd be laughing at them too. How could you not? It would be so funny.

@Ronrybs (20539)

• London, England

5 Feb 24

Wonder how they know which words to use?

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

I don't know but they seem to come out with the right ones most of the time.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Feb 24

@Ronrybs Some on occasions do seem to be able to say the right thing at the right time. However, these African greys were very obviously saying the wrong things at the wrong times. It would be very funny to witness.

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@Ronrybs (20539)

• London, England

6 Feb 24

@JudyEv Can they judge human reactions and know what to say

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@Hannihar (130204)

• Israel

6 Feb 24

@JudyEv They are very loud and I can imagine how loud and noisy they are when they swear. I wonder if they understand what they are saying when they swear.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Feb 24

I don't like parrots much because of the noise they make. I don't suppose they understood what they were saying but they'd pick up on people's reactions.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 24

@Hannihar Your cat is probably happy with you as a companion. Sometimes cats don't get on with each other, especially if she is used to be the only pet in the house.

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@Hannihar (130204)

• Israel

7 Feb 24

@JudyEv I have never had a parrot and really do not want one. I am trying to think of a companion for my cat but she bites and never learned manners so hard to come up with something. I do not like them either.

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@Beestring (15350)

• Hong Kong

5 Feb 24

Oh, they are so lovely and cute.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Feb 24

They are popular as pets but they sometimes squawk a lot and are very noisy.

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@AmbiePam (98125)

• United States

6 Feb 24

Birds are so amazing. All animals are, but birds in particular are really winged wonders.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

I think we are only just starting to appreciate how clever they are. Some even use tools to help them solve problems.

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@ptrikha_2 (47857)

• India

12 Feb 24

It would have been fun! Yet it also confirms that our company makes a big influence on us. Good, honest and fair people around us make us think in that direction. Dishonesty, hatefulness and bad behaviour make us into more of the devilish one. Exceptions can be there but often the minds of people are liable to such influences. Have a nice time !!

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb 24

That is so, so true and more people need to be aware of it. We need to be careful of the company we keep.

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@May2k8 (18527)

• Indonesia

6 Feb 24

they only speak words that they imitate from every person who speaks, sometimes they say dirty words.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

Yes, that's true. They pick up all sorts of words from others.

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@RebeccasFarm (94524)

• Arvada, Colorado

5 Feb 24

Haha I love them funny birdeens Judy.

We had one an Amazonian..green and cursed like a sailor.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Feb 24

I think the Amazons are about the biggest of the parrots. Isn't it funny how they learnt to swear so easily?

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@RebeccasFarm (94524)

• Arvada, Colorado

5 Feb 24

@JudyEv Yes someone in my household at that time many years ago was foul mouthed.

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@RasmaSandra (84880)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

6 Feb 24

That is such a handsome bird, Not nice to have them taught to swear. However, when my cats get naughty and won't let me alone being demanding of food and everything I would not mind a African grey in a cage hanging above their head that would put them in their place

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

A lot of parrots seem to learn to swear. They must pick up on some sort of vibe from their human.

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@MarshaMusselman (38837)

• Midland, Michigan

5 Feb 24

That would be a trip if all the parrots were to use fowl language. It was a good idea for the new ones too be separated so they didn't spoil the whole bunch, I mean flock

And I like your pun, if that's what it was.

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@MarshaMusselman (38837)

• Midland, Michigan

10 Feb 24

@JudyEv I don't think so either.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

English spelling is funny sometimes, isn't it? I wonder if the birds will forget their bad language in time. I wouldn't bet on it.

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@Fleura (31682)

• United Kingdom

5 Feb 24

I read about that a little while ago. They had to isolate the culprits to stop the bad habit spreading! Today I saw a story about a cockatoo who flew out and got lost during a storm. He was reunited with his owner after someone found a cockatoo and posted a video of him singing 'If you're happy and you know it' and the owner recognised him right away. Glad he got back home but I'm glad he doesn't live in my house, that would drive me nuts!

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-01-26/im-happy-and-i-know-it-singing-parrot-reunited-with-canine-best-friend

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-01-26/im-happy-and-i-know-it-singing-parrot-reunited-with-canine-best-friend

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@Fleura (31682)

• United Kingdom

5 Feb 24

@JudyEv I used to want a parrot but I could never afford one. And when I got to the stage that I could afford one, I no longer had enough life-time ahead of me to take on one of the long-lived species!

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

@Fleura I'm sure there are a few around who have outlived their owners.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Feb 24

I'd never want one as a pet. We looked after a couple of sulphur-crested cockatoos when we were house-sitting and that was enough for me.

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@TheHorse (226374)

• Walnut Creek, California

6 Feb 24

I would sing bawdy pirate songs to them. I have a friend here who is an African Grey.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

We're going to listen to pirate songs next Monday. Vin's doctor is part of a sea-shanty group.

@FourWalls (74570)

• United States

5 Feb 24

Apparently they’d been hanging out with American sailors.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

It would seem that way. You'd have to laugh at them laughing at each other.

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@wolfgirl569 (115937)

• Marion, Ohio

5 Feb 24

They do learn fast.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

Some species are more intelligent than they were ever given credit for.

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@LindaOHio (188478)

• United States

5 Feb 24

I LOVE parrots and all birds; and the African greys are SO smart. I would love to have one; but they are very messy. Have a good day.

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@JudyEv (353196)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb 24

The greys are supposed to be the smartest. I agree that they're messy - and noisy.

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