Talking South Idaho Magpie Wins Over Folks: Farmers Not Included

Of all the animals on the planet, there are only a couple of species that mimic the language of humans. Birds appear to be the best creatures at mastering the art of copying human beings' speech sounds, and there's a winged wonder in southern Idaho that has gained a following for having the gift of gab.

I have a friend who used to own a couple of parakeets that had a knack for unflattering greetings. They were trained to welcome visitors with a barrage of potty-mouthed quips. They very much enjoyed speaking about visitors' mothers, if you catch my drift.

A co-worker of mine stopped by my desk this week to pitch a story idea.

"There's a talking magpie in Hagerman that has its own website," she said.

"A talking what?" I replied.

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A Talking Bird In Southern Idaho Has Developed A Growing Fanbase

I honestly didn't know what the hell a magpie was until recently. Upon hearing it mentioned, I thought it was some regional stew served in Scotland containing an animal's intestines in a creamy pot pie. Then I learned that it's a bird, and a species not popular with farmers.

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Monkeys, whales, and birds are basically the only animals that can mimic human speech, according to AZ Animals. "Kai" is a magpie in Hagerman who is winning over area residents with her joyful disposition. She's become a sort of rock star among community members.

Apparently, these birds can be highly destructive to crops. We're currently in the process of working with Kai's agent to try to line up an interview. My thanks to Amanda for introducing me to Kai.