The African Grey Parrot

By Jane Grimshaw

This intelligent grey bird is one of the most popular parrots kept as pets, probably due to its amazing talking and mimicry skills. It is native to Central and Western Africa and lives in lowland rainforests, clearings and savannas.

The African grey is actually divided into two species, the Congo, P. e. erithacus and the Timneh, P. e. timneh. Congo Greys are larger and lighter in color, displaying a bright red tail and have a shy and somewhat neurotic nature. Timneh Greys, on the other hand, are smaller and darker grey with a maroon coloured tail. They are less shy and not as neurotic as Congo's. There is some evidence to suggest that there may be a third sub-species, which is larger and darker than the Congo. It is not certain whether or not it is just a different variation of color restricted to a certain locality.

Sadly, in the early days, these beautiful birds were killed and used as food by natives. Their striking red tail feathers were thought to be decorative, as well as possessing magical powers. In the 19th century they were transported by sea to Europe in reed containers where they became popular pets among the Europeans.

African greys have been kept as pets for many years; Egyptian Hieroglyphics present strong evidence of this. They were valued for their talking abilities by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and King Henry VIII of England was said to have kept one as a pet.

It is now illegal to import Greys into North America under CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). It is still legal to import them into Europe, but conservation groups such as The World Parrot Trust are working towards changing this. Fortunately, Greys can be successfully bred in captivity, which may help to cut down on some overseas trading.

Feeding, Breeding and Habitat

In the wild, these parrots live and feed in small areas in trees or palms, nesting high up in tree holes, preferably over water on river islands. They usually gather in flocks and form sub-groups of around 20 to 30 birds.

African greys have no specific breeding season due to the warm climate in which they live. Their staple diet consists of fruits, nuts, seeds and berries from a variety of native rainforest species, along with the flesh of oil-palm trees. In the wild they climb through the trees and canopies gathering up their food, displaying their excellent climbing and maneuverability skills. They can often be heard expressing themselves loudly with shrill whistles, screams and squawks.

African greys will usually lay around three to five eggs at a time. The female incubates the eggs for 30 days and the male will feed her during this period. Both parents then take on the role of feeding the chicks. Once hatched, the nestlings stay in the nest for a few months before leaving. Adult Greys usually pair for life and can often be seen feeding and preening each other.

There are no striking plumage differences between the sexes, but there are some noticeable differences. The male has a flatter, broader head and is generally around one inch bigger in size when fully grown than the female. The female has a longer, more slender neck and a smaller, more rounded head than the male. The male Congo is usually darker on the wings and has red feathers around the vent.

Grey Matter

Their ability to talk is just as strong as their mimicking ability, as they can mimic any number of items such as doorbells, telephones, coffee grinders and microwaves - thus confusing their owners into continually answering the door or the telephone!

Most, although not all, African greys will begin to talk after they are about one year old. The degree in which they will talk often depends on how much time you spend with them - the more attention they get, the more chance you have of owning a talking bird. They do tend to bond with one person, so you will often find that they will only perform for that person.

Scientific tests have been carried out on African greys. Dr Irene Pepperberg, a university professor and parrot expert, performed a series of tests using her own pet parrot, Alex. It was discovered that Alex not only developed an extensive vocabulary, but could also understand the meanings of words. These studies can help scientists to learn more about how different brains work and help them to find ways of assisting children with learning disabilities.

African greys are sensitive creatures and can make very rewarding pets. They do, however, require a lot of attention, due to their increased intelligence and demanding nature. If they are ignored and left in a cage for long periods of time with nothing to do, like young children, they will become bored. Boredom can lead to feather plucking and neurotic behaviour - this being more likely in Congos.

Providing a good variety of suitable parrot toys can help to keep them entertained in your absence, provided they do get plenty of attention when you are around. Hopefully, if you provide the correct care, you and your African grey will spend many happy years together. And that could be a very long time, as they can live for 50 to 65 years, or longer!

© Doityourself.com 2006