FT258


The myth

The colonies of wild parrots widespread today in London and south-east England are descended from birds which Jimi Hendrix released in the 1960s to add some psyche­delic colour to the city. Either that, or the original breeding pair were Jimi’s pets, accid­entally released after the guitarist’s death. Or, if not, then they were escapees from Shepper­ton film studios during the filming of The African Queen (1950); or possibly, in the 1970s, during the making of another (unnamed) picture at Shepperton. One way or another, anyway, the first London parrots had showbiz origins.



The “truth”

Feral parrots have been recorded in London since 1855.