Pepe the Red-Crowned Amazon Rescued on San Marino Street, Now Hermon Celebrity

Pepe was a chick when T.J. Gonzalez found him flailing on a busy street in San Marino in July 2021; Gonzalez watched cars pass and later described the bird as “He was like roadkill.” The chick had a broken wing, and when wildlife rehabilitators told Gonzalez they would euthanize the parrot because of the injury, he instead took the bird to a veterinarian and christened him Pepe.

Because Pepe could not fly after the injury, Gonzalez began walking him around the Hermon neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles. Pepe became a familiar presence at the Hermon market, often perched on Gonzalez’s shoulder in the Fresco Market parking lot where a flap of brilliant green feathers and a cheery squawk routinely drew shoppers’ attention. Phones were put away as people looked up, and the crowd greeting that greets Pepe at the market is commonly heard: “Pepe! Hey Pepe! So good to see you!”

Gonzalez, a man who retired after 37 years as a mail carrier, brings Pepe to community centers, farmers’ markets, and local events across Hermon. The pair also often take the Metro into downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach, and other locations, making Pepe not just a neighborhood fixture but a traveling companion on public transit. Pepe’s behavior at public appearances is strikingly sociable; perched on Gonzalez’s shoulder, the parrot often seems wide-eyed and almost smiling as he surveys the parking lot and approaching public, doing what he naturally does - make people happy.

Pepe is a red-crowned Amazon, Amazona viridigenalis, a species whose flocks are often seen in Northeast L.A., and the bird’s social profile has grown beyond the market. Pepe has more than 8,600 followers on Instagram, a measure of the parrot’s local celebrity status and social media reach. Kids and adults alike interact with Pepe during his outings, and his appearances have become predictable moments of delight in Hermon’s daily rhythm.

The decision Gonzalez made in July 2021 - to bring Pepe to a veterinarian rather than accept euthanasia advice - changed the bird’s trajectory. With a broken wing that prevents flight, Pepe found a role as a public greeter and companion to a retired mail carrier. As Pepe continues to appear at Fresco Market, local events, and on Metro rides into the region, he remains a visible example of how a single rescue can create ongoing community moments and joy.