The life of Roxy: A beloved Brooklyn Heights parrot recently rescued with specialist treatment

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Roxy, a beloved 15-year-old eclectus parrot from Brooklyn Heights, was recently rescued by the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center following intensive specialised treatment. 

Roxy was adopted when she was under a year old by Brooklyn Heights residents Amanda and Peter Nissman. Amanda told the Brooklyn Eagle that the couple had originally intended to get a male eclectus, because they are less aggressive than the females, but Roxy immediately charmed them when they saw her in an aviary in Miami. They decided to bring her home to Brooklyn. 

Although Roxy needed some time to “set her boundaries” when she arrived, she has become affectionate and endlessly amusing for the couple, who have no other children.

In Brooklyn Heights, the red and purple parrot enjoys free rein of the apartment and plenty of quality time with her parents. She does not have her wings clipped and sometimes gets taken on field trips in a special birdcage to nearby cafes or the Nissmans’ roof. 

Amanda says that Roxy brings “great energy” and is always keen to chat to strangers. She treats men and women differently, greeting women with “hi, beautiful girl,” and men with dramatic, flirtatious dances. 

Roxy enjoys watching her parents practice their hobbies at home. When Amanda dances, she encourages her moves with “Whoooo!” When Peter plays the guitar, she sits on his shoulder and sings along.

Roxy especially enjoys showering with Amanda — she has a tiny suction perch that attaches to the shower wall, and the two dance and sing in the water. Amanda said that Roxy is “very smart and complex” and thrives with plenty of attention. 

Last year, Roxy suddenly became extremely lethargic, putting her head behind her wings to sleep at odd hours of the day. Amanda and Peter panicked. Since birds try to hide pain to protect themselves from predators, they worried that Roxy’s bad spirits might mean she was at the end of her life. 

After a series of vet visits, Roxy was diagnosed with a chronic egg-laying condition. Lumps had formed on either side of her throat, which meant she could barely move her head. One vet told the Nissmans that Roxy’s chances of survival were around 20%. “It was just really awful,” Amanda said.

The couple reached out to the AMC, the world’s largest nonprofit animal hospital, based in Manhattan. Advanced diagnostic tests, including ultrasounds, a CT scan and DNA sequencing, identified the masses as chronic infections within an immune cell cluster. 

Dr. Daniel Spector successfully removed the larger mass on the left side of the neck, and the smaller mass on the right was treated with daily medication. Roxy was able to discontinue her medication in mid-2025, and today, she is thriving in great health.

“Roxy’s got a lot of moxie,” Amanda said. 

Roxy celebrated her 15th birthday on Thursday. She will be honored at the AMC’s 18th Annual Living Legends Luncheon on May 13, along with other remarkable recovery cases.