Coraline

This is what we know:

Coraline — usually called Cora or Kiki — is a 9-year-old female Congo African Grey who has been with the same person since she was young.

Cora was originally purchased from a pet store, and she was already damaging her feathers before she ever went home. Her plucking has gone through better and worse periods over the years, but it became significantly worse after her person was hospitalized for several months in 2021. At this point, we would consider that part of who she is rather than something an adopter should expect to “fix.”

She is also very, very Grey.

Cora talks, loves to beep, has perfected the sound of a smoke detector with a dying battery, rings her bell enthusiastically, and enjoys head scratches. Her musical taste includes Aretha Franklin, Uptown Funk and, unfortunately for everyone involved, Baby Shark.

She loves almonds, fruit, cardboard rings and putting her head inside cups, toilet paper tubes and other things that apparently make excellent hats.

Cora can be nervous about new objects and changes in her environment. Something new may be suspicious sitting across the room, and if you move it later, apparently it has become an entirely different and much more dangerous object. She will do best with someone who understands how observant and cautious African Greys can be and is willing to introduce new things slowly.

Handling is a little more complicated. Cora generally prefers hanging out on top of her cage rather than being carried around. She has bitten her longtime person and has done some stick training, although she is smart enough to occasionally defeat the system by simply blocking the stick with her head. She has historically done very well with male veterinary staff and may have a preference for men.

Cora is not looking for someone who expects an instant cuddly family bird. She is looking for someone who appreciates the kind of relationship she is actually offering: conversation, companionship, ridiculous noises, intelligence, personality and trust that may take some time to earn.

For the right person, there is a whole lot of bird here to fall in love with.

Age: 9

Sex: F

Prefers: Likes both in our experience

Other Bird Aggressive? We haven’t allowed this bird to interact with other for their safety.

Cage Aggressive? No.

Adoption Fee: $1500

Cage Available: Affordable used cages available to purchase starting at $100-to 250 up to 1000.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: None

***Information that is universal to every bird:

1) Birds are typically not family animals. They usually choose a favorite and at best you can expect them to tolerate everyone else.

2) Birds are not great with kids, dogs, other birds, and are not cuddly with everyone, nor can they really be trained to be. Birds are flock animals, who are social creatures that need to be in a communal area where they can see the rest of the family, or you may eperience serious vocalization and behavior problems. We’ve never met a bird who is great with kids, but we have met kids who are respectful of birds.

3) Birds bite. But, you shouldn’t “take the bite”. If you’re getting bit, you haven’t earned the trust of the bird, and are pushing the bird past his/her limits. You must figure out what the bird needs, and make what you’re asking of the bird more attractive than what they are already doing.

4) Birds are not “dominance” based creatures. Your only option for birds is to earn their trust. If they are, say…on top of a cage and don’t want to come down, that is where they feel safest, not a dominance thing. They are not trying to exert dominance, they just don’t want to come down. Your job as a parrot owner is to figure out what you can do to help them trust you, and whatever you are asking to be more attractive than what they are already doing.

5) NEVER send money over the internet for adoption with any individual or organization for the adoption of an animal you have not met in person. That is almost always a scam.