Charlie (parrot) facts for kids

Charlie, also known as Charlie the Curser, is a female blue-and-yellow macaw. She lives in a garden centre in Reigate, Surrey, England. Macaws are known for being very smart and able to mimic sounds. Charlie is famous for a special story about her past.

The Story About Churchill

Charlie's owner has a fascinating story about her. He claims that Charlie once belonged to Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. This was a very important time in history.

The owner says his father-in-law sold Charlie to Churchill in 1937. He then got the parrot back after Churchill passed away in 1965. According to the story, Churchill taught Charlie to shout curses. These curses were supposedly aimed at Adolf Hitler, who was the leader of Nazi Germany. Britain was at war with Germany during this time.

Is the Story True?

Many people have looked into this claim. The people who manage Chartwell, Churchill's former home, say it's not true. They say Churchill did have a grey parrot, but it was not a macaw like Charlie.

Churchill's daughter, Lady Soames, also said her father never owned a macaw. She confirmed he had a grey parrot named Polly. However, he sold Polly before he became prime minister. So, it seems the story about Charlie and Churchill is just a fun tale.

Charlie Today

Charlie has been living at Heathfield Nurseries for a long time. She is often cared for by Sylvia Martin, the manager. Sylvia says that Charlie has gotten a bit grumpy as she's gotten older. But she is still a very bright and lively bird. Charlie continues to be a popular resident at the nursery.

See also

In Spanish: Charlie (loro) para niños

• List of individual birds