Puck: The Parakeet With the Biggest Vocabulary



Puck, a parakeet who holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for “the bird with the largest vocabulary in the world,” knew 1,728 words. Rather than just mimicking, Puck created his own phrases and sentences. He often used the appropriate phrase in a situation, and sometimes displayed an uncanny understanding of his environment. For example, on Christmas morning 1993, Puck was entertaining himself on the coffee table in the living room when owner Camille Jordan heard him say: "It's Christmas. That's what's happening. That's what it's all about. I love Pucky. I love everyone.” Unfortunately, Puck's life ended too soon. He was only five years old when he died of a gonadal tumor on August 25, 1994. He had been accepted into the Guinness Book of World Records only a few months earlier.