Meet the African Grey parrot who sounds like a Dr Who Dalek

The Africa News.Net
Wednesday 27th August, 2008 (ANI)

London, Aug 27 : Leonard, an African Grey parrot, can accurately imitate Doctor Who's enemy 'the Daleks'.

And that's not all, the talented parrot is also capable of mimicking Beethoven's symphonies and the Mission Impossible theme.

According to owners, Maya and Ian Brandt, Leonard emulates noises made by people and things around him and has even developed a perfect comedic timing.

"We have taught him certain things, but other things like music he picks up - he just likes to imitate what he hears," the Telegraph quoted Maya, as saying.

"We listen to Radio 4 a lot and he always joins in the pips before the news. He also copies noises before you even realise you are doing them," she added.

The eight-year-old parrot mastered Dalek's expression with the help of one of the couple's nephews.

"My nephew had got the gravelly voice down to a tee and now Leonard can do it too," she said.

"He also whistles Dock of the Bay, the theme tune from Mission Impossible, renditions of Red Red Wine, YMCA and perfect impressions of water splashing and a squeak in the floorboards.

"He doesn't do anything to order of course. If people come around wanting to hear him, he will often just sit there with his beak firmly shut," she added.

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