African Grey Parrot

The African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus, also called the Congo grey parrot) is a medium to large parrot that is mostly grey with a black bill. A typical bird weighs about 400 g and measures around 33 cm long, with a wingspan of 46-52 cm.

The head and wings are usually darker than the body, and the head and body feathers have slight white edges. The tail feathers are red, sometimes with a few black touches. Males and females look alike.

African Grey Parrots are common in captivity and are kept as companion birds. They are prized for their ability to mimic human speech, which makes them one of the most popular pet birds.

African Grey Parrots are native to equatorial Africa, including Angola, Cameroon, the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. They favour dense forest but also turn up at forest edges and in more open habitats such as gallery and savanna forests.

The species was formally described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus. Its close relative, the Timneh parrot, was once treated as a subspecies but is now considered a separate species following a genetic and physical study published in 2007. Only these two parrots now belong to the genus Psittacus.

Keeping them is old: they appear as pets in Egyptian hieroglyphics dating back to around 2000 B.C., and the Greeks and Romans kept them in cages. Breeders in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia have bred them intensively since the 1800s.

African Grey Parrots are highly intelligent and are considered among the smartest of all birds. Many have performed tasks at the level of a four- to six-year-old child. They can learn number sequences, link human voices to faces, and even invent new labels for objects, such as "banerry" for an apple.

They are very social and rely on a flock structure, even when raised in captivity. Much of their speech is learned through contact with the people they live with, and they use contact calls to form strong bonds with their human housemates. They are well known for copying noises from their surroundings and repeating them tirelessly.

They are also sensitive birds. Without enough attention and enrichment they can become distressed, and social isolation speeds up stress and ageing. In the wild they are secretive and mainly eat fruit, nuts and seeds, and they nest in tree cavities as monogamous pairs.

Captive African Grey Parrots are known to be susceptible to fungal and bacterial infections, nutritional insufficiency, malignant tumours, psittacine beak and feather disease, tapeworms and blood-worms. Young birds catch beak and feather disease more often than adults. They are also more likely to have rhinitis, an inflammation of the nasal cavity.

Feather plucking is a common sign of distress, affecting up to 40% of captive birds. They can also be prone to behavioural problems because of their sensitive nature.

In captivity they may live for 40-60 years, while the average in the wild appears to be around 23 years.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

How long do African Grey Parrots live?

In captivity they may live for 40-60 years. In the wild the average appears to be shorter, at about 23 years.

Are African Grey Parrots good at talking?

Yes, they are famous for it. They mimic human speech and many other sounds, and some use words in ways that fit the social situation. Alex, a parrot studied by Irene Pepperberg, learned more than 100 words.

How big do African Grey Parrots get?

They are medium to large birds, about 33 cm long and typically around 400 g. Adults weigh roughly 418-526 g.

How can you tell a young African Grey Parrot from an adult?

Young birds typically have dark grey to black eyes, while adults have yellow irises around dark pupils. Juveniles also have undertail coverts tinged with grey.

Is the African Grey Parrot endangered?

Yes. It is rated endangered by the IUCN because of heavy trapping for the pet trade and habitat loss. Since 2016 it has had the highest level of international trade protection under CITES Appendix 1.

Wild African Grey Parrots also mimic. Two birds recorded while roosting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had a repertoire of over 200 calls, including imitations of other birds and a bat.

A 2012 study found that captive birds have individual musical tastes, choosing different songs and then dancing and singing along. Some pet birds have used smart speakers to ask for favourite songs.

In one test, African Grey Parrots actively gave a nut to a partner even when it cost them their own, and their partners returned the favour.

In January 2024, Lincolnshire Wildlife Park moved eight swearing parrots in with more than 100 other birds to try to dilute their profanity.