Parrot Mimics Owner's Voice To Boss Around Her Other Pets

Posted by samzenpus on Friday January 16, 2009 @07:34AM from the do-what-the-parrot-says dept.

Barney, an African Grey Parrot, has learned to use his owner's voice to boss around her other pets. The bird, 10, squawks out orders like "come here" and even offers praise to his favorites such as "good dog." Margaret Sullivan, 65, says the bird's favorite game is calling out to a cat named Shadow. He then praises him when he does as he is told and sits on top of Barney's cage. Her husband says, "It's uncanny. He mimics her perfectly and when the dogs come over to the cage as if they are following his orders. The animals all think he's Margaret when he speaks. He loves ordering them around and commanding them — it's very surprising. He's not frightened or scared of them at all." Sounds like the beginning of a bad horror movie to me. Mimic Master; The last scream you hear will be your own.

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Common enough story by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-16 07:58 · Score: 1, Interesting

Parrots, especially the african gray parrots (like the one shown in the picture) are notorious for doing this kind of thing. Another popular activity is for the bird to get the dogs barking, and then give the dogs a good cussing out for barking, using their owner's voice.
Mine just imitates kissing sounds.