The African Grey Parrot

The most intelligent and talkative pet bird

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Types

Fast Facts

Videos

Training

Education

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The African Grey Parrot is probably the most popular pet bird and is known to be the most intelligent and the most talkative of the parrot family.

African Greys are excellent companions and will keep you on your toes. Not only can Greys learn a large vocabulary (some more than 1,500 words!), but they can learn how to speak in different voices. I have known African Greys that sound exactly like their owners and are able to successfully call the dog and even trick them into thinking the sliding glass door has just opened because of their unbelievable sound imitating abilities.

African Greys tend to be one-person birds, so it is important to socialize them with more people on a regular basis. Greys need plenty of interaction and things to do. Many become feather pluckers simply out of boredom. These pet birds need good mental stimulation, so providing them with plenty of puzzle-like and interactive toys is a must. Teaching them tricks is another good way to stimulate their smart little minds.

Pet African Grey Parrot Species

There are two popular African Grey subspecies:

African Grey Parrots
Congo African Grey	Timneh African Grey

There aren't really any differences between these two subspecies other than the way they look. Congos are the more popular of the two, but are said to be more high strung. Some people believe that Timnehs make better pets. I personally think this depends on each individual bird, so I encourage you to interact with a few African Greys and see for yourself.

Fast Facts

Name

African Grey (Psittacus erithacus erithacus (Congo)) (Psittacus erithacus timneh (Timneh))

Origin

Africa

Size

Congos: 12-14", 400-650 grams; Timnehs: 11-13", 275-400 grams

Color Differences

Congo greys are silver or light grey with bright red tail feathers and black beaks while timnehs are smaller and a dark charcoal color with maroonish tail feathers and a reddish cast to their beaks.

Owner

African Greys require an experienced owner.

Average Cost

$600-2000

Lifespan

Up to 80 years

Noise

African Greys are relatively quiet--they are not known to scream. For this reason, they are fine to keep in an apartment.

Qualities

Great talkers, can imitate voices and sounds, very intelligent, highly tuned in to owners' moods, known to be able to use speech in context, can be high strung and nervous (so you may need to be careful when introducing new toys or surroundings), not great for a household with young children (older children ok), tend to be a one-person bird unless well socialized, need an owner that is gentle, patient, and attuned to their needs, males can be more aggressive than females, can become feather pluckers out of boredom.

Abilities

Excellent - Known for their talking abilities. African Greys are capable of learning a large vocabulary (some as much as 1,500 words!) as well as speaking in different voices and some use words in context.

Interaction/Time Requirements

African Greys need daily interaction as well as socialization with other people (or they may become a one-person bird).

Diet

They need a diet for large birds.

Supplies Needed

They need supplies for large birds.

See How African Grey Parrots Compare to Other Types of Pet Birds!

African Grey Videos
"Einstein the famous talking African Grey Parrot!"
Video by africangreyparrots African Greys are truly amazing parrots. They are the most popular parrots seen on television and in animal shows. This video is a great example of how intelligent and entertaining they can be!
"PARROT INTELLIGENCE: DR. PEPPERBERG with AFRICAN GREYS GRIFFIN, ALEX & EINSTEIN"
Video by wildlifeguardian It's also important to note that African Greys have been studied for many years and are said to actually learn to understand what they are saying--not just mimick. This video from Animal Planet shows these studies and the fascinating findings Dr. Irene Pepperberg has uncovered.
"Tui the African Grey has a Tantrum"
Video by kskiwi African Greys are not only talented in studies, but also as pets. This humorous video shows the vast vocabulary (and accurate voices!) that African Greys can have. It also shows that these parrots can very likely understand what they are saying.

African Grey Training

African Greys have a habit of becoming very aggressive and sensitive birds, so it is important to train them correctly right from the beginning. African Greys can be fantastic companions. They are caring, loving, and they can become very attached. However, if not properly trained, they can be very nervous and may never want to leave their cage.

For these reasons, we highly recommend that you find an effective training program for your African Grey. Whether your African Grey is new to your home or you've had him for years, a training program will always come in handy. We personally recommend the Bird Tricks Parrot Training Course by Chet Womach. You can see many of his videos for free to get an idea of how much he knows about parrots and how he can help you train yours.

Below is one of Chet's videos that discusses two tips on how to train your African Grey. This video is a great example of how effective the training courses are and how they are filled with a wealth of useful information for any bird owner. This video is really only the first step in getting your bird tamed. We highly recommend checking out Chet's curriculum for taming your African Grey even further.

For more information about Chet's course, you can visit the Bird Tricks webpage here.

African Grey Education

African Grey Gifts
Here are some fun gifts for the African Grey lover in your life. And if you are an African Grey lover, then these are some fun items to show your pride. You know you want to!

African Grey Stories

Have A Great Story About Your African Grey Parrot?

Share your experience with others! There's no better way to learn about a pet bird than from an owner.

Some helpful information for potential owners can be: What is the species of your bird? Is he/she friendly? Loving? Cuddly? Talented? Messy? Loud? You get the idea!

Your story may just help someone decide whether or not this pet bird is for them.

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Click here to see the rest of the form and complete your story.

Read What Others Have Shared

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We got Cookie earlier this year. She's a flipping brilliant, loving bird and we're proud to have her as part of our family. She's good with all the family,...

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