APOLLO THE SMART PARROT BREAKS THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD

Although parrots can be highly talkative and intelligent birds, Apollo is the bird with the greatest talent. On December 18, 2023, the 4-year-old African grey parrot successfully identified 12 items, shattering the Guinness World Record for the most items identified by a parrot in three minutes. He now appears in the Guinness World Records 2025 book as a major star.

Apollo resides in Saint Petersburg, Florida, with his human parents, Victoria "Tori" Mason and Dalton Mason, both 25-year-old content creators. In 2020, the couple saw Apollo at their neighbourhood pet shop and decided to adopt him. They told Guinness World Records, "We knew upon meeting him that we'd be taking him home, he instantly got our attention."

Apollo was able to identify 12 objects, including "bugs," "books," and "socks," by closely examining each one and testing its texture with a bite. His parents' intention to "spread awareness of the natural intelligence found in animals" is strengthened by this accomplishment. He is currently getting what the Masons refer to as a "preschool-level homeschooling education" because of this.

Apollo has been trained by the couple using the Model/Rival method developed by Dr. Irene Pepperberg. This method has allowed Apollo to gain a vast vocabulary and mastery of his skills. Every time the perceptive parrot learns something new, it gets excited to receive a pistachio as a reward.

Apollo is said to be as intelligent as a toddler who understands words, colour, and objects. Because the inquisitive bird enjoys learning about his surroundings, his verbal skills are developed enough for him to be able to count and ask and respond to complex questions.

He can be seen playing with his bird sisters, Soleil and Ophelia, two white-bellied caiques when he's not training. In addition, he enjoys spending time with his toys, especially a Super Mario figurine of the evil Wario, whom he can now recognise by name. Apollo's endearing demeanour has helped him gain a sizable social media following in addition to his exceptional intelligence. Apollo is still honing his abilities and learning new things today. His humans say, "He loves picking up new skills and using his knowledge outside of his training environment." They can make their dream come true and have Apollo become "the smartest parrot ever" with a little effort.