A budgie’s favorite resting spot can be a little unpredictable: a curtain rod, the top of a door or, occasionally, someone’s shoulder. One feathered resident of a Brazilian household set a new standard when it chose a young girl’s braided hair as the perfect place to take a nap.
The girl, Valentina, was spending time with her family’s pet birds when one of the budgies wriggled between the sections of her hairstyle, made itself comfortable and showed no intention of leaving. Her father, well-known Brazilian animal trainer Russo, couldn’t believe his eyes. He grabbed his phone, and the clip quickly took off online, passing 10 million views on his Instagram account.
For a man who has trained everything from dogs to cockroaches, it takes a lot to be surprised by an animal. In an exclusive interview with Bored Panda, Russo shared how the unexpected moment unfolded, why the tiny bird felt so relaxed, and why he believes his daughter’s bond with animals may already be stronger than his own.
More info: Instagram
A budgie turned Valentina’s braids into a bed, and the video of its nap has been seen more than half a million times
It started when Russo heard his daughter calling out and went to investigate. Nestled between the sections of her hairstyle was one of the family’s pet birds, which, rather than flying away, shifted around like someone fluffing a pillow and drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile, a second feathered companion perched calmly on her shoulder, apparently unbothered by the whole affair. Russo reached for his phone, and the footage soon spread far beyond the family home, racking up more than half a million views on his Instagram. “I always knew something like this would happen eventually, but I never expected it to be with these budgies!” he told us. “Valentina has already helped me train cockroaches, vultures and other animals, but this moment was so natural that the internet just fell in love with it!”
The sleepy bird was a gift from Russo, a trainer who once went viral for befriending a rescued vulture
Animals have always been part of everyday life in this household. Known online as Russo Adestrador, the trainer previously captured hearts with Zico, a rescued vulture so devoted to him that he jokingly called it “a dog with wings.” The parakeets arrived more recently, when he brought one home for Valentina and another for his stepdaughter, Bella, both of whom adore animals. Despite its sudden fame, the star of the video still doesn’t have a name.
Even an experienced trainer had never seen a bird show this much trust
According to Russo, this was the first time the little bird had ever treated anyone’s hair as a resting spot, and the moment caught him completely off guard. “From what I understand about animal behavior, haha, it genuinely thought her hair was the perfect place to take a nap,” he said. “Birds naturally develop strong bonds with the people who care for them. But climbing into someone’s hair, settling in and getting comfortable enough to sleep? That’s something I’ve honestly never seen before!” What stood out most, he noted, was how relaxed it appeared. It wasn’t hiding or stuck, but adjusting its position to get cozy before nodding off.
Valentina has become a local celebrity, and her proud dad believes her bond with animals is truly special
The newfound attention has been a thrill for the young star. “Her friends and people all over town keep stopping her to talk about the videos. She’s become a little influencer, haha!” Russo shared. When asked whether she inherited his talent, he didn’t hesitate: “I’ve had my share of viral moments, but honestly, she’s even better at this than I am! I think she’s going to outshine me pretty soon!” She’s a natural in front of the camera, too, often following his script and then adding spontaneous remarks that make each video better than he planned. For Russo, though, the clip means far more than views. “Even with all my experience and knowledge of animal behavior, I truly believe Valentina has an extraordinary connection with animals. It’s something different, something really special,” he said. “Just talking about it gives me goosebumps! I’m incredibly grateful to God for allowing me to experience these moments.”
