“Aarrrgg! Matey”
Who said it first? Parrot or pirate?
Credit: ardelfin
Down through the centuries these colorful characters have become inseparably linked. No depiction of a pirate would be complete without a parrot perched somewhere in the background.
The parrot, in fact, has come to personify the pirate. Walt Disney's charming, Peg Leg Pete, depicted a buccaneer counterpart, complete with eye patch, red bandana, and a skull-and-cross-bones hat.
Parrots and Pirates Have Much in Common
Buccaneers traveled the Caribbean, visiting exotic islands in search of treasure. Parrots inhabited these tropical climes and can still be found today in idealic surroundings.
- The quintessential pirate is depicted as having a beaklike nose, piercing eyes and stubby legs-physical characteristics he would have shared with his feathered “mate.”
National Geographic described the typical buccaneer as being decked out in flamboyant colors, proudly displaying his earrings, bracelets, and chains. Most parrots have gorgeous feather coloration and, similar to their pirate companions, are attracted to bright objects (both parties have been known to bite on a shiny object or two).
- A connection has been made between the loud, gravelly-sounding and colorfully “punctuated” speech of pirates and that of parrots
- Pirates were used to unstable footing, could swing from high places, and knew that getting sprayed was just part of the “job” description. Parrots take swaying branches in stride, like elevated places, and love a good misting.
Pirates were travelers by nature and were known to swoop in and take whatever they wanted. Parrots are able navigators and have been known to nab whatever captures their interest.
Robert Louis Stevenson's tale, Treasure Island, has contributed to our perception about pirates and parrots. Long John Silver kept his parrot, Cap'n Flint, in the galley of the Hispaniola and when Silver went ashore, the bird accompanied him. Silver's bird was named after a famous buccaneer.
Psittacines have transcended boundaries, charming us with their talking ability, their fascinating personalities and eye-catching plumage. It's no stretch to see why the distinction between buccaneer and bird has become blurred-why the parrot is the perfect representation of pirates of the past. When it comes right down to it, out of all the treasures plundered by privateers, the parrot may have been the best prize of all!
