N'kisi

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This article is about the parrot. For the traditional artifacts from the Congo Basin, see Nkisi.

N'kisi is an African Grey Parrot who exhibits apparently advanced English usage skills and other abilities.

According to news reports and websites,^[1] ^[2] as of January 2004, N'kisi had a vocabulary of about 950 words and used them in context, frequently in complete sentences, has approximated verb forms to maintain the correct tense (such as saying flied as the past tense of fly), and does not depend on learned phrases to communicate his thoughts. According to these sources, N'kisi is capable of understanding photographic images, and is able to name objects (within his vocabulary) appearing in a photo. He is also said to be capable of inventing new terms for things he does not know words for. One anecdote recounted by the chimpanzee scientist, Jane Goodall^[3], says that upon meeting her in person after seeing a photo of her, he asked, "Got a chimp?" It is claimed he demonstrates what appears to be a sense of humor.

N'kisi has also taken part in a published scientific study of telepathic abilities,^[4] which has been criticized by skeptics. There is also some controversy about whether parrots are capable of using language, or merely mimic what they hear. Some scientific studies conducted with other African Grey Parrots have suggested that they are capable of using words meaningfully in linguistic tasks, and scientists are now beginning to recognize the intelligence of parrots.^[5]