Swearing parrot ruffles feathers at zoo

A PARROT is worrying staff and scaring children at a zoo by telling visitors to "f*** off".

Max the five-year-old African grey parrot was donated by a previous owner who got fed up with his expletive-laden chatter.

Keeper Peter Hansom at South Park birdhouse in Darlington, in the north of England, blamed schoolchildren for teaching Max, a five-year-old African grey parrot, the obscenity.

He told London's The Sun: “He’s a bright chap and easily picked it up. There’s no knowing when he’ll blurt it out. I hold my breath when parents stand with small children at his cage.

“Sometimes he will just say ‘hello’ or ‘bye’ but as often as not it’s ‘f*** off’.

“His favourite trick is to stick his head in a tin cup in his cage and then swear. He seems to know it makes a louder sound.”