From the desk of The Movie Snob.

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (B+). This documentary about birds was far superior to the overhyped Winged Migration. It’s about a flock of wild parrots living in San Francisco. And it’s about a gentle, hippie-type character named Mark who moved to the Bay City twenty-five years ago and whose vague intention of becoming a rock musician never really panned out. Instead, seemingly by chance, he got involved with these odd avian transplants to San Francisco, gradually earning their trust and becoming a St. Francis of Assisi-like character to them. What really makes the film work are Mark’s entertaining observations about the personalities of various individual birds he has identified and named, and the excellent photography reinforces the poignancy of the stories. Like Connor, the only blue-headed parrot in the flock, who is somewhat aloof and lonely but helps protect underdog members of the flock from being picked on. Or the longtime couple Picasso and Sophie. Or Mingus, the only healthy wild bird who actually prefers staying in Mark’s apartment over freedom. The film even ends with a delightful surprise, unusual for a documentary. Check it out.