Sure, Will Ferrell is all laughs when he shows off his cheerleading skills on SNL or adds maple syrup to his spaghetti (in character, at least), but one thing the comedian actually takes seriously is his affinity for birds. Adam McKay, who directed several films starring Ferrell, recently revealed that Hollywood's go-to guy for side-stitch humor is actually a serious bird nerd.



According to McKay, Ferrell has had a connection to birds since he was a kid. When he was just 11 years old, he interrupted a flock of crows ganging up on—and terrifying—one of his childhood friends. “He just yelled ‘Enough!’, and all the crows just stopped and looked at him and then quietly flew away,” McKay said. For Ferrell, it was love at first flight.



Since then, he’s used his stardom (and resulting cash) to amass an aviary of birds worth $7.8 million. Just how many feathered friends does it take to rake up a $7.8 million bird bill? Depends what you buy. For instance, one world champ racing pigeon, named Usain Bolt, sold for a whopping $400,000 in 2013—racing pigeons consistantly rank as the highest priced birds in the world. But if flashy feathers are Ferrell's thing, 500 Palm Cockatoos would be worth just as much—at roughly $16,000 a bird, they’re one of the priciest pets on the globe.



Ferrell may well have some pricey individuals (McKay didn't reveal details), but he also has regular cockatiels, cockatoos, and a flesh-eating Turkey Vulture named Gregory.



Though Ferrell’s brought the occasional beaked buddy along with him for an interview, he’s adamant that the birds not be exploited. When McKay suggested giving Gregory the Turkey Vulture a role in one of his films, Ferrell staunchly replied, “No. The birds are not for money. The birds are for God.” Seems like these lucky birds get to revel in the spoils but leave the spotlight—and room and board—to Ferrell.

Watch Ferrell talk to Conan O'Brien about his birds—and one bird in particular, who was also a guest on the show: