African Grey Information

The term “bird brain” was certainly not coined with the African Grey parrot in mind. This highly intelligent bird can be more like having a small child than a pet, as some of them have shown cognitive abilities on par with a toddler, according to PetMD. Originally hailing from forests in central Africa, African Greys have two standard species kept as pets, the Congo African Grey and the less common Timneh African Grey. Expect either to live at least 50 to 70 years or more.

  1. Appearance

    • As their name suggests, African Grey parrots have a light gray head and darker gray body, often with black markings infused throughout. Their gray heads and bodies are offset by white around their eyes and bright red tail feathers. The Congo African Grey averages 12 to 14 inches tall while the smaller Timneh African Grey averages 9 to 11 inches.

    Personality

    • Intelligence is one of the most obvious traits of African Grey parrots, as they are known as both the smartest talking bird as well as one of the smartest animals overall, states PetMD. They can talk, and some have even been able to count and read. African Greys are playful, easily bored and do best surrounded by a wide and interesting array of chewable toys, like blocks, branches and other large bird accessories. Although African Greys often start off shy and remain shy in a crowd or around strangers, they will warm up to their masters with early and frequent handling and attention.

    Talk, Talk, Talk

    • Even if they are shy, African Greys are not afraid to speak. They are one of the most talkative and eloquent birds who can mimic not only human speech but a number of sounds. Most African Greys start talking around one year old; the Timneh African Greys often speak a bit sooner than the Congo African Greys. An African Grey named Prudle once held a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the parrot with the largest vocabulary, at 800 words.

    Care

    • A large cage is a must for this active and playful bird, one with thick bars, plenty of toys and at least two perches. The cage should measure at least 30 inches in height, width and length. Regular trimming of their beak and nails helps keep them in tip-top shape, as does regular misting to help keep them clean. Mist with room temperature water and let them air dry in a warm room. African Greys fare well on a diet stocked with quality pellets and at least 15 percent vegetable matter and about 5 percent fruit. Nuts make for an occasional treat. Steer clear of any fruit with pits, and shell any peanuts before feeding.

    Considerations

    • Adult African Greys can be a bit finicky when it comes to change, sometimes picking at their feathers when upset by a shift in their routines or environment. Some people are allergic to the powder the birds automatically produce to protect and clean their feathers. African Greys are also prone to a number of conditions that include Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) and Psittacine proventricular dilatation syndrome (PDD), a digestive disorder. Calcium deficiency is another concern, one you can eradicate by making sure any indoor bird has full spectrum lighting.