African Grey Parrot: Species Characteristics & Care

African grey parrots can do it all: they make great pets, mimick human speech, and with the right training, can understand hundreds of words and phrases. Some say that the African grey parrot was kept as a pet for thousands of years—there are records of these birds as household pets in biblical times.

This parrot is characterized by its grey feathers and an uncanny talent for accurately mimicking words and phrases. It can also understand human speech, which has helped to catapult this bird to stardom in research circles and the pet trade.

Origin and History

The African grey parrot is native to the equatorial regions of Africa, including the nations of Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda. The species' favored habitat is dense forests, but it is also frequently found at the edges of forests and in open savanna areas.

Temperament

African greys are the most intelligent of the parrot species. Many grow to be extremely sweet and affectionate toward their owners, and the species is known for being quite sociable.

However, an African grey that is bored or neglected is an unhappy bird. A depressed or angry bird will screech its discontent. You must provide the bird with lots of mental stimulation.

A highly intelligent bird is also a complex bird. Although it is very social and demands interaction, it is not necessarily a cuddly bird. Some of these birds tend to become "one-person" birds, even if owners make every effort to socialize them with all members of the family.  

Speech and Vocalizations

Pet African greys pick up on words and sounds very quickly. One African grey has even "blown the whistle" on a woman's love affair by repeatedly calling out the other man's name in front of her husband and using the cheating wife's voice.

Like toddler children, African grey parrots have a reputation for repeating everything they hear. So, it's wise to watch your language around these birds. Greys are adept at picking up and repeating any sounds they like, including squeaky doors, vehicle back-up chimes, fire alarms, microwave alert bells, and telephone ringtones. Owners need to be vigilant about what these birds hear—once a sound is learned, it is difficult or impossible for the bird to "unlearn" it. 

The African grey is not known as a loud screamer. It can be suitable for owners living in apartments or condos, although neglected birds may scream their dissent for being ignored and can get noisy.

African Grey Parrot Colors and Markings

The African grey, true to its name, sports mostly grey feathers, some with a beautifully thin, pale edging. There are two subspecies, Congo and Timneh greys. Congos are about a third larger than Timnehs. Congo African greys boast shiny black beaks and bright red tail feathers, while Tinmeh greys have horn-colored mandibles and deep maroon tailfeathers.

You can tell males and females apart once the birds reach adolescence, at least 18 months of age. A male African grey's tail will remain solid red, while a female's red tail feathers become tipped with silver. The undersides of a male's wings become dark, while a female's remain light. Other subtle sex differences include: a male will have a more slender, narrower head, while females tend to have longer necks, with larger, rounder heads. If these differences are too subtle for you, you can get a definitive answer with a surgical sexing procedure or a DNA test.

Caring for an African Grey Parrot

The African grey is a medium- to large-sized parrot that needs adequate living space. Minimum cage size should have a 2-foot by 2-foot footprint and 3 feet in height. Larger cages are preferable. 

Without plenty of interaction and training, an African grey parrot may become depressed and exhibit self-mutilating behaviors, such as feather-plucking. 

These birds thrive when they have lots of opportunities for playing with toys, interacting with their owners, and learning words and tricks. Expect to spend several hours each day interacting with and training your African grey. Many owners report that African greys enjoy having television or radio playing when they are left alone. 

African greys are said to be somewhat sensitive and easily affected by stress and commotion. They may be more relaxed if the cage is placed in a quiet corner of the room rather than in the center. 

Common Health Problems

African greys can be prone to feather picking, calcium deficiency, vitamin-A and vitamin-D deficiency, respiratory infection, psittacosis, and psittacine beak and feather disease. 

Vitamin deficiencies can be prevented by making sure your bird eats a wide selection of fruits, as well as vegetables high in beta-carotene, such as cooked sweet potato, and fresh kale.

Feather-picking is usually the sign of a bored bird that is not receiving enough mental stimulation, attention, or exercise. 

Diet and Nutrition

In the wild, African greys eat fruits, leaves, insects, bark, and flowers. The best food for an African grey in captivity is a high-quality, formulated pellet supplemented with fruits such as pomegranate, organic mango, and melon. Also, provide fresh vegetables, including leafy greens like arugula, watercress, kale, sprouts, and healthy seeds such as hemp and flaxseed. You can premake chop, a salad for birds, that will help keep your African grey parrot healthy and thriving.

Many greys also enjoy a variety of treats and snacks, such as nuts and healthy table foods like steamed green beans, breakfast toast, and salad.

Offer you bird a half cup of pellet-based parrot mix and a 1/4 cup of fruits and vegetables daily and adjust the quantity according to their appetite. Remove and discard all uneaten fresh food by the end of each day.

Exercise

Adequate amounts of activity are crucial to maintaining the health of an African grey parrot. Pet greys should be allowed to spend at least 1 to 2 hours out of their cages daily with vigorous exercise and make sure to provide them with plenty of bird-safe chew toys to help exercise their powerful beaks.

Where to Adopt or Buy an African Grey Parrot

Contact a local breeder and see if you can meet with them and their pets to see first-hand how these birds interact in a home environment. 

Breeders sell African greys in the range of $2,000 to $4,000. Signs you should avoid the breeder include cramped living conditions, inactive birds, and breeders who avoid your questions or do not seem to have much information on their birds. Rescues, adoption organizations, and breeders where you can find African grey parrots include:

• Beauty of Birds List of Breeders
• Lonely Grey Rescue
• Bird Breeders

More Pet Bird Species and Further Research

If the African grey parrot interests you, you may want to also consider one of these other pet bird species:

• Cockatoo Species Profile
• Sun Conure Species Profile
• Quaker Parrot Species Profile

Otherwise, check out all of our other medium-sized parrot species profiles.