In a uniquely humorous episode at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in the United Kingdom, five African grey parrots had to be separated after their colorful vocabulary began to raise eyebrows—and laughter—from zoo visitors.
The parrots—Billy, Elsie, Eric, Jade, and Tyson—were all adopted around the same time and initially housed together. However, it didn’t take long for the feathery companions to begin swearing at guests with startling timing and clarity. Even more amusingly, the birds would often burst into collective laughter after delivering their expletive-laced outbursts, forming what zookeepers described as a cheeky chorus of mischief.
Visitors were frequently amused by the parrots’ antics, which, unfortunately, only reinforced the behavior. The more people laughed, the more the parrots seemed to relish the spotlight.
“It was like watching a group of old men at a pub,” one zookeeper remarked, noting how the birds would seemingly egg each other on and take turns shouting profanities, followed by raucous laughter. While the zoo staff appreciated the birds’ intelligence and comedic timing, they grew concerned that the routine was becoming too disruptive—especially around children.
In an effort to tone down the parrots’ behavior, the zoo made the decision to split the group and house them in separate enclosures. The hope is that being around different animals will encourage the parrots to adopt more polite phrases—or at the very least, reduce the verbal feedback loop they had created amongst themselves.
Despite the temporary separation, the zoo has assured the public that the parrots are healthy, well-cared-for, and still receiving plenty of attention—albeit under slightly stricter supervision.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park has long been known for its dedication to the care and rehabilitation of parrots and other exotic birds. While this incident provided plenty of laughter for staff and guests alike, it also serves as a humorous reminder of just how clever and social these birds can be.
