Strange Behavior in African Grey Parrots

African grey parrots -- also known as African greys -- are one of the world's most popular large parrots. Due to their amazing ability to mimic human speech and even more amazing ability to not screech as loudly as macaws, African greys are found as pets on all continents. African greys are defined by their odd quirks which can be a fun and fascinating experience for those new to birds.

  1. Speech

    • The number one strange and defining behavior for African greys is their ability to mimic human speech. Starting when just a few months old, African greys have been recorded with a vocabulary reaching over 3,000 words and noises. Beyond just remembering the words however, African greys have the ability to actually learn when to use speech in context - such as saying "hello" when someone enters a room.

    Mimic Sounds

    • Due to their acute sense of hearing, African greys can also mimic common sounds ranging from barking dogs to microwaves. Mainly due to their hearing, African greys are able to isolate these individual noises and replicate them with their unique vocal cords with astonishing resemblance - often confusing parrot owners -- who are left wondering if their African grey actually made the noise.

    Hide and Seek

    • African greys have been known for playing primitive forms of hide and seek with their owners. From their cages, African greys are commonly known to duck up and down from sight. The ability to do this correlates strongly with the belief that African greys have the intelligence of a four-year-old child, but the maturity of a two-year-old.

    Fetch

    • African greys have been known to pick up items and drop them at their owners feet or bed no matter how many times the owner returns the items to their original place. This strange behavior can be explained as a sense of entertainment and stimulation for the African grey, as it interacts with its owner and environment.