In many cultures the color red has been used as a protective measure. The Yoruba use of the single red tail feather from the otherwise toitally grey " African Gray " parrot flows from the following pataki: Oludumare ( God) had created a perfect/beautiful totally white parrot. The other birds were jealous and treated the white parrot brutally, so Oludumare called back the bird and said: "You are my favorite bird in the world, but I will not have you mistreated like this. So, from this day forward, instead of your perfect white color, you shall become gray and the other birds will no longer be jealous. Yet, so you will always know you are my favorite bird, I shall give you a single red tail feather to mark your specialness to me." So, the single tail feather from the African gray parrot is used to protect us from jealousy, envy and harm from others. Women may wear it in their hair, carry it in their purse, while men will do well to slip one inside their wallet.