Dead Parrot sketch that he had been swindled by the seller. Dead Parrot sketch The "Dead Parrot Sketch", alternatively and originally known as the "Pet Shop Sketch" or "Parrot Sketch", is a sketch from "Monty Python's Flying Circus". It was written by John Cleese and Graham Chapman and initially performed in the show's first series, in the eighth episode ("Full Frontal Nudity", which first aired 7 December 1969). The sketch portrays a conflict between disgruntled customer Mr Praline (played by Cleese) and a shopkeeper (Michael Palin), who argue whether or not a recently purchased "Norwegian Blue" parrot is dead. It pokes fun at
Cape parrot Cape parrot The Cape parrot ("Poicephalus robustus") or Levaillant's parrot is a large, temperate forest dwelling parrot of the genus "Poicephalus" endemic to South Africa. It was formerly grouped as a subspecies along with the savanna-dwelling brown-necked parrot "(P. fuscicollis fuscicollis)" and grey-headed parrot "(P. f. suahelicus)", but is now considered a distinct species. The Cape parrot is a short-tailed moderately large bird with a very large beak used to crack all sorts of hard nuts and fruit kernels, especially those of African yellowwood trees ("Podocarpus" spp.). This contrasts with the closely related savanna species ("Poicephalus fuscicollis") which feeds on