African Grey Parrot Diet

There are two subspecies of the African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), which is commonly found as a pet: the Congo African Grey Parrot (P. e. erithacus) and the Timneh African Grey Parrot (P.e. time). Both the Congo and Timneh African grey parrots have similar dietary needs.

  1. Wild Diet

    • Wild African Grey Parrots eat a variety of flowers, leaves, roots, stems, fruits, nuts, seeds and even dirt. This includes ficus and the palm oil fruit Elaeis guineensis.

    Pellets

    • Formulated parrot pellets such as Roudybush or Harrison's can make up the base of an African grey's diet. These pellets have most of the vitamins and minerals that parrots need.

    Fresh Produce

    • Every day African grey parrots should get several choices of fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement their pellet diet. Fruits and vegetables with lots of color such as carrots, dark leafy greens, and berries have the best nutrition.

    Healthy People Food

    • Many fresh and cooked foods that are healthy for humans can also be given to greys, and they can be healthy additions to their diet. They can be fed cooked whole grain pastas and breads, cooked egg and cooked beans.

    Seeds and Nuts

    • Nuts and seeds should be offered as a treat only and not comprise a large percentage of the African grey parrot's diet. Nuts and seeds available for pet birds do not provide the same nutrition as what would be eaten in the wild. Diets high in seeds or nuts will cause malnutrition and health problems for African grey parrots.