Mischievous Parrot Uses Voice Assistant to Try Ordering Snacks Online

A clever African grey parrot named Rocco has gone viral after being caught using a smart speaker to try ordering food and household items while his owner was away from home.

Rocco, who lives with his owner Marion Wischnewski, reportedly learned how to interact with a voice-activated assistant by mimicking human speech. When left alone, the parrot was heard giving commands to the device, adding items to the household shopping list and attempting to place online orders.

According to reports, Rocco tried to order strawberries, watermelon, raisins, broccoli, and even ice cream. He also added unexpected items such as a kite and light bulbs, creating what appeared to be a perfectly ordinary shopping list—until his owner realized the “customer” had feathers.

“At first, I thought I must have done it myself and forgotten,” Wischnewski said. “Then I heard him speaking to the device and realized what was happening.”

Rocco was taken in by Wischnewski after being fostered from an animal welfare center, where he had gained a reputation for being noisy and mischievous. Found as a stray, the parrot was already known for copying words and phrases, including occasional swearing and loud outbursts.

The attempted shopping spree was made possible through a voice-controlled system linked to Amazon, which allows users to add items to their cart or shopping list using spoken commands. While no purchases were ultimately completed, the incident prompted Wischnewski to install additional security measures, including voice recognition and parental controls.

Animal behavior specialists say African grey parrots are among the most intelligent bird species and can learn to associate specific words with outcomes, such as receiving treats.

The story has amused social media users, many of whom praised Rocco’s initiative and sense of humor. Others noted it serves as a lighthearted warning about the risks of leaving smart devices unsecured.

In the end, Rocco’s actions were harmless—but memorable.

By recognizing a system, learning how it worked, and attempting to reward himself with snacks, the parrot proved that curiosity and intelligence are not limited to humans. Sometimes, they come with wings, a sharp beak, and a taste for ice cream.