Dark-humored parrot mocks man with chronic lung condition

By Barney Riley via SWNS

Meet Jack - the cheeky parrot that mocks its owner's ailing father - by mimicking his chronic cough.

Rescue parrot Jack - hates men - including 28-year-old Lorna Webb's dad Scott, 66, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Former taxi driver Scott was diagnosed with COPD in 2008 and the damage to his lungs is irreversible.

But that doesn't stop Jack, a female Congo African gray parrot, from copying Scott's constant coughing and spluttering.

Jack began mimicking Scott when he lived with Lorna in Bedford, Bedfordshire, for ten years.

Lorna and Jack moved out five years ago - but to this day, the parrot continues to mimic Scott's cough.

She said: "It's strange to think that long after my dad has passed, his coughs will still be echoing around in my flat."

Lorna, who works full-time in online customer service, says that despite the seriousness of her dad's condition, the family maintains a dark sense of humor.

Scott manages his COPD with inhalers, steroids, home oxygen and nebulizers.

Footage shows Scott flipping the bird at Jack - in jest - after seeing a video of her relentless mimicry.

Lorna added: "We tend to have a dark sense of humor, and we find Jack's mocking of my dad very funny.

"That type of gallows humor certainly isn't for everyone, but we all had a really good laugh.

"It's funnier because Jack really dislikes my dad, so it's like she is mocking him dying."

Jack has a dislike for men and makes this known with her behavior around blokes.

Lorna said: "Like many African grays, Jack has a very strong gender preference towards women, so she hates men, without exception.

"When Jack and I lived with my dad, she would sneak across the floor silently and attack the back of his ankles.

"Or she'd fly down and bite the back of his neck. He has always been terrified of her."

Despite the persistent mickey taking, Scott loves Jack, but at the same time is terrified of her.

Lorna added: "My dad loves Jack - in fact, he helped me drive up and down the country when jack was poorly during the pandemic, and all of our local exotic vets were on furlough.

"However, he is absolutely terrified of her and with good reason. If a man enters Jack's space, she will go out of her way to bite him."