Unlike most parrots, who can manage the odd "Pretty Polly," N'kisi knows 950 words, and even has a sense of humour.

He invents his own words and phrases to deal with new ideas, just like humans. When he met a famous monkey expert, he asked: "Got a chimp?"

When N'kisi, an African grey, was tested by scientists, they found he used the right words three times more than would be likely by chance.

He is also very inventive, and described the aromatherapy oils used by his owner as "pretty smell medicine."