| Description |
medium sized parrot; dark grey wings; pale grey rump; featherless rim of skin around the eyes is whitish to light grey; head and neck feathers have paler margins giving a scalloped appearance; short red tail feathers; black beak |
| Sex |
reliable only via endoscopy or DNA sexing |
| Age |
50-70+ years |
| Length |
12"-14" |
| Wingspan |
approximately 28" |
| Weight |
14-23 oz. |
| Habitat |
rainforests, cultivated land, mangroves, wooded savannas, and gardens |
| Status |
listed as "NT" (near threatened) in large part due to trapping for the pet trade; in the U.S. importation is prohibited under the U.S. Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 |
| Range |
lowland forests of central Africa, Guinea Island, Kenya & Tanzania |
| Behavior |
form lifelong monogamous bonds; nests in tree hollows and cavities; during breeding season the male feeds his mate and both sing soft monotonous notes; the female will sleep in the nest cavity while the male guards it; female lays 3-5 eggs at intervals of 2-5 days; female incubates the eggs; male feeds the incubating female; incubation lasts 30 days; males feeds both the female and young; young fledge at 12 weeks after which both parents feed young; |
| Diet |
in the wild, a variety of fruits & vegetables; in captivity quality pelleted diet, a variety of vegetables, fruits, and occasionally nuts |
| Vocalization |
screams less than most parrots; considered the best mimic of all parrots; |
| Other Information |
- Considered by many to be the most intelligent of all birds. Some individuals have been documented as having a 500-800 word vocabulary, and amazing cognitive abilities.
- Like most parrots, African Greys are high maintenance pets, requiring a great deal of personal attention if they are to remain happy and healthy. When not given enough attention, they develop a host of health and personality problems. |
