If it’s always good to have another trick under your wing, this parrot is set for life. After an African Grey named Nigel flew out the window of his home in California, he came back with a surprise for his estranged companion four years later.
But he made a stop first on another woman’s doorstep, speaking Spanish. She later explained, “I’m from Panama and he was saying, “What happened?” in Spanish.”
She started her search online and, after a few missed connections, found his owner Chuck. At first, Chuck said that it wasn’t his bird, as it had been so many years that he thought it must be impossible. But after the bird gave his hand a friendly nibble – uncharacteristic for these smart, independent birds – he knew it was his old friend.
Winning over an African Grey parrot is no easy task. Originally from central Africa, these birds are highly intelligent – not simply memorizing an impressively large vocabulary, but also the meanings of many of these words, which enables them to have efficient conversations with their trusted companions. Because of this, they require a committed and patient owner.
They can be wonderful and affectionate in a relationship that has been built over time, but they are quite high maintenance pets. That being said, they are almost incomparably entertaining and rewarding – even memorizing songs and melodies, and enjoying them too!