27 February 2017 – 15 September 2021
Some companions come into our lives and change them completely. Mitthu was one of those.
Who Mitthu Was
Mitthu was an African grey parrot — silly, brilliant, endlessly talkative, and impossible not to love. He hatched on 27 February 2017 and came into my life when he was less than a year old, after his previous keeper could no longer care for him. From that day, he was family.
He was unlike any parrot I’ve ever known. He could speak four languages — English, Urdu/Hindi, Pashto, and Arabic. He’d greet everyone with a loud, cheerful “Salam Alaikum” and “Habibi.” He sang, he danced, he waved his little funny motions, he meowed like a kitten (he missed his cat friend), and yes — he swore like a champion whenever the mood struck him. He had a huge vocabulary, a talent for mimicry, and a gift for making people laugh.
His favorite spot in the whole house was his main perch by the wall, beneath two paintings, where he’d hold court, chatter away, tease his little parakeet companion, and simply be himself. He was never locked away — in nearly seven years together, he spent almost his entire life out of the cage, free to fly from corner to corner of his own room and settle on his favorite perches. I wanted nothing more than for him to be happy and free, and he was.
How He Became “TikTok Parrot”
Mitthu never set out to be famous. On the advice of friends who kept telling me he was too special to keep to ourselves, we finally shared a few videos online — on TikTok, under the username @tiktokparrot.
People fell in love with him almost instantly. His videos went viral, and the name stuck: everyone started calling him the “TikTok Parrot.” In January 2021 he truly took off, eventually gathering more than 300,000 followers and over 5.5 million likes, with news agencies even reaching out about his videos. But to me, he was never a viral sensation. He was just Mitthu — my funny, stubborn, wonderful bird who happened to make the whole world smile too.
That username is the reason this website exists. After he passed, I registered this domain — the same name he was known and loved by — so that a piece of him would always remain. This site is, and always will be, a memorial to him.
The Day I Lost Him
On 15 September 2021, at 9:38 AM, Mitthu passed away in my arms. He was healthy, strong, and happy right up until the night before.
The cause was something I never imagined could be so dangerous: avocado. I had given him a piece the night before, not realizing in that moment how toxic it is to birds. By morning it was too late, and there was nothing anyone could do. Losing him this way — to a simple, avoidable mistake — is a grief I still carry every single day.
I have written openly and honestly about that day, not because it’s easy, but because it might save another bird and spare another owner this pain.
His Legacy — Please Learn From My Mistake
If Mitthu’s story does one thing, let it be this: please, never feed your parrot or any pet avocado. It is deadly to birds, along with several other common foods we never think twice about. If you keep a bird, take a moment to learn which foods are dangerous before it’s too late.
You can read the full story here: An Avocado Killed My African Grey Parrot
This is why I keep this website alive. African greys are extraordinary, intelligent, deeply feeling creatures who can live 50 or 60 years and who depend on us entirely. They deserve immense patience, care, and love. Reliable information about them isn’t always easy to find, so I share what I’ve learned — my joys and my hardest lessons — in the hope of helping other owners give their birds the long, safe, happy lives they deserve.
Thank You
To everyone who loved Mitthu, who followed his videos, who sent messages of kindness and comfort after he passed — thank you. Your words carried me through the darkest days. This website is my promise to keep his memory alive and to turn my greatest regret into something that protects other beloved birds.
Rest peacefully, my Mitthu. You made so many people smile, and you always will.
Forever loved, never forgotten.