Name:

Isabella. She also answers to "Izzy" and "Izzy B."

Species:

Timneh African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus timneh.)

Sex:

Female

Age:

2 years.

Favorite Foods:

Believe it or not, Isabella's mom says that her favorite thing to chow down on is... ice cubes!

Favorite Toys:

Izzy loves to bounce on her boing, as well as play on a great little hammock that her mom made for her cage.

Favorite Perches:

Isabella likes a perch with a view.

"She loves to sit on her Manzanita tree and yell to the outside birds at the feeder." says her owner, Lisa.

Dislikes:

Isabella is a very happy bird -- so much so that Lisa doesn't have any dislikes to report!

Special Talents:

Isabella is a very proficient talker, with quite a large vocabulary of words, phrases, whistles, and sounds. "She calls the cats, yells for me like my husband, and asks the wild birds, cats, and everyone else 'What are you doing?'" says Lisa. "I whistled the 'Andy Griffith' tune one time the other day and she is already doing it herself. She also whistles the 'Porky Pig' theme from Looney Tunes which my husband taught her. She likes to yell like our Cockatiels, Frank and Harold, and the yell 'FRANK!' as if she is blaming him for doing it."

Life with Isabella:

Lisa and Isabella found each other when Izzy was 4 months old. "I instantly fell in love with her" Lisa says. "She is an awesome talker, an acrobat, and a pure joy to be around!"

While it's true that African Greys have a reputation for being "one-person birds", Isabella has proven herself to be an exception.

"Our girl loves my husband very much" Lisa reports. "She can make both of us laugh no matter what kind of day we've had."

Her charming personality and amazing mimicking skills seem to go hand in hand. "She blows kisses with her foot, says 'I love you', and so much more" says Lisa.

When Isabella isn't playing or chatting up the local wildlife, she likes to take naps under a blanket and lounge in her special hammock. Princesses need their beauty sleep, right?

Overall, it's easy to see why Isabella is such a special bird -- her intelligence and gentle nature has helped her become a beloved member of Lisa's family, and she serves as a wonderful example of the strong bonds that can form between birds and people.

Do you think that your bird should be the next "Bird of the Week"? If so, email me at birds@aboutguide.com with photos and information about your pet. Make sure that all images are clear and bright, in .jpg format, and at least 200px.