Why Pirates Have Parrots! | World History | Extra History #shorts

Did pirates really keep parrots for fun and profit? Is that classic image of a buccaneer

with a bird history, or myth? Well, turns out a bit of both. See, while the iconic image of a

pirate with a parrot comes from Long John Silver in Treasure Island and its film adaptations. It

appears there's truth to a pyratical affinity for exotic birds. Because there are accounts of

pirates and other sailors with a pet parrot and it makes sense why. First, pirates frequently

made ports of call in Mexico and the Caribbean, where such birds were readily available. Second,

they were ideal ship pets. Their antics and human mimicry breaking up the boredom of sea life. Plus,

they're on the small side, rarely get underfoot, don't eat much, and can be fed nuts, seeds,

and dried fruit that are easy to acquire and store. Not to mention, parrots live a long time.

Decades! Meaning they were sort of an investment pirates could sell when they were done sailing

the high seas. Then of course, there's the legend of the Seeta. Anthropomorphic parrots and toucans

with a talent for mimicry and getting into trouble while adventuring beyond the canopy. No, we didn't

just wander into the extra mythology set. Just the newest Humblewood chapter. To craft a priating

parrot for your own high fantasy adventures, visit their Kickstarter at the link below.