Who's NOT a pretty boy, then? Nelson, the baby parrot, who could be the ugliest bird in the world

By Simon Tomlinson

He has a face that only a mother could love.

But sadly for poor Nelson, his didn't.

The parrot chick, who must surely be a contender for the ugliest bird in the world, was rejected by his parents after he hatched.

However, he can at least take some comfort in the knowledge that he will one day grow up to be an attractive Kea parrot.

Nelson, who has been described as looking like a cross between an alien and a roast chicken, was born last month at Bergzoo in Germany.

As such, the youngster is now being cared for around the clock by staff and spent the first four weeks of his life in an incubator.

Keas are large parrots native to the alpine regions of New Zealand that are known for their intelligence and curiosity.

Adults are mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange flash under their wings.

But his looks won't last forever...



Ugly no longer: Nelson will eventually blossom into a beautiful Kea parrot like this one