What Are African Grey Parrots?

What Are African Grey Parrots?

African Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) - also sometimes referred to as Red-tailed Grey Parrots or simply African Greys - are endemic to the primary and secondary rainforests of West and Central Africa, and some islands located in the Gulf of Guinea
Even though these birds have a wide range, their numbers are declining in most of the 23 African countries they naturally occur - mostly due to habitat destruction and capturing for the pet trade.
These popular avian pets have the reputation for being amongst the most intelligent of all birds. They are in demand because of their human-like ability to mimic speech and generally gentle nature.
The most famous African Grey parrot was called Alex. In 1977, Dr. Irene Pepperberg purchased him from a pet store hoping to disprove that Parrots were just mimics. In the more than 30 years that she worked with him, Alex has shown amazing cognitive abilities, being able to name more than 100 objects, actions and colors. Alex was able to identify certain objects by their particular material. Sadly, Alex died in 2007.

Overview

Provided by Dr. Rob Marshall

Originating from central Africa, the African Grey Parrot is a highly intelligent parrot and requires a committed and patient owner. Alongside the Eclectus, these birds are one of the most intelligent parrot species and possess the ability to develop a large vocabulary and communicate efficiently with their owner.

Description:

The African Grey is a medium-sized parrot that measures between 10 to 14 inches (25 to 36 cm) in length (including the tail).

Average Weight and ID:

• Congo Grey Parrots: 380 to 554 grams (light grey plumage - red tail)
• Timneh Grey Parrots: 300 to 360 grams (darker / charcoal grey plumage - maroon tail)

Plumage:

As the name implies, this parrot is predominantly grey, with accents of white and a red or maroon tail depending on the subspecies, and the area around eyes is usually white.

Feet:

These parrots have 4 toes on each foot—two front and two back.