My African Grey Parrot Rides a Bicycle Better Than Most Toddlers (And Judges My Hygiene)Meet Grey Grey: The parrot who's part athlete, part life coach, and 100% sass.
- amazonicahelp
- Jan 13
- 4 min read
The Parrot Who Became a Cycling Sensation
I never thought I'd be upstaged by a bird.
But there I was, watching my African Grey parrot, Grey Grey, pedaling a tiny bicycle across my living room floor with more grace and confidence than I had on my first bike at age seven.
Let me back up.
It Started With a Crazy Idea
A few months ago, I wondered: could an African Grey learn to ride a bicycle? Not just sit on one for a photo op, but actually ride it?
Spoiler alert: Yes. And she's better at it than she has any right to be.
After months of patient training, Grey Grey can now:
Ride a miniature bicycle
Play basketball (she actually scores!)
Go bowling with a tiny ball
Skateboard across the floor
Sort objects by 5 different colors
Fetch items on command
But the cycling? That's what stops people in their tracks. When I post videos of Grey Grey confidently pedaling around, the comments explode: "This can't be real!" "Your parrot has better balance than me!" "I need to see this in person!"
The Unexpected Life Coach
Here's where it gets really funny.
Grey Grey isn't just an athlete. She's also appointed herself as our household hygiene monitor.
Scenario 1: Coming Home From Work
I walk through the door after a long day. Before I can even set my bag down, Grey Grey greets me at the entrance:
"Go shower!"
Not "hello." Not "welcome home." Just a direct command that I apparently smell like the outside world and need to do something about it immediately. She then immediately groom herself!
Scenario 2: Lazy Weekend Morning
It's Saturday. I'm still in yesterday's clothes, enjoying my coffee, thinking I have all day to get ready. Grey Grey waddles over, takes one look at me, and delivers her verdict:
"Go shower!", followed by her signature armpit self preening Spa.
She knows. Somehow, this bird has figured out that if I'm wearing the same outfit from the night before, I haven't showered yet. She's like a tiny, feathered parent who's very concerned about my life choices.
How We Got Here: The Training Journey
The Cycling Training Timeline:
People always ask: "How long did it take to teach her to ride a bicycle?"
Months. Each trick takes months of patience, repetition, and a whole lot of ProMix (her favorite reward).
The process looked like this:
Getting comfortable with the bike (weeks)
Understanding the pedaling motion (more weeks)
Balance and coordination (many frustrating sessions)
Putting it all together (the magical moment it clicked)
African Greys are incredibly intelligent - they have the cognitive abilities of a 5-year-old child and the problem-solving skills to match. But they're also individuals with their own learning pace and preferences.
The "Go Shower" Education:
This one? I didn't teach her this. She taught herself.
Grey Grey observed our daily routines and made the connection:
We come home → we shower
Same clothes as yesterday → we need to shower
She smells something off → time to suggest a shower
She's basically running a quality control check on our hygiene, and honestly, she's not wrong.
Why This Matters (Beyond the Entertainment)
African Greys are astounding creatures. They need:
Mental stimulation - A bored Grey is a destructive Grey. Teaching tricks isn't just fun; it's essential enrichment.
Social interaction - They're flock animals who thrive on being part of family activities.
Patience and consistency - These birds live 50-60 years. Training is a long-term relationship, not a quick project.
Respect for their intelligence - Grey Grey doesn't just perform tricks; she understands context, recognizes patterns, and makes decisions.
The Viral Moment We Didn't Expect
When I first posted Grey Grey's cycling video, I thought maybe a few bird enthusiasts would enjoy it. Within 48 hours, it had been shared thousands of times.
The comments ranged from amazed to hilarious:
"I can't even get my parrot to step up, and yours is in the Tour de France"
"The way she just casually rides by like it's normal 😂"
"Please tell me she wears a tiny helmet"
"Does she judge your cycling skills too?"
But my favorite comments are from people who say seeing Grey Grey's abilities has changed how they view parrots - not as "just pets," but as complex, intelligent beings capable of incredible things.
Behind the Scenes: The Less Glamorous Reality
Not every training session is Instagram-worthy. There are days when:
Grey Grey decides she's not interested in basketball and would rather chew the ball
She rides the bicycle directly into the wall (we've added padding)
She yells "Go shower!" at guests (mortifying)
She knows exactly how to do the trick but chooses chaos instead
That's life with a parrot. They have opinions, moods, and agendas of their own.
What's Next for Grey Grey?
We're currently working on:
Saying Gong Xi Fai Cai , (Happy Prosperous Chinese New Year)
Soccer (she mostly just wants to destroy the ball)
More complex color sorting patterns
But honestly? I'm just here for the journey. Every small breakthrough is a celebration. Every stubborn day reminds me she's her own bird, not a robot.
And every time she tells me to go shower, I laugh - because she's probably right.
Your Turn: What Can Your Parrot Do?
I'd love to hear about your birds! Whether they:
Have impressive tricks
Have appointed themselves as household managers
Surprise you with what they've learned on their own
Make you laugh every single day
Share your stories in the comments below. Let's celebrate these amazing creatures together.
Want to see Grey Grey in action? [Follow us on social media for daily cycling sessions, basketball games, and unsolicited hygiene advice]
P.S. Grey Grey just reminded me I've been writing this for three hours in the same outfit. She might have a point.
🦜 Share this if you've ever been outsmarted, outperformed, or out-cycled by a parrot!
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