Grey Parrot

African Grey Parrots are among the most familiar of all parrots. Originating from central Africa, many African cities now have feral populations. The Timneh Grey Parrot is localized to the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. Habitats for Grey Parrots include savannahs, coastal mangroves, woodland and edges of forest clearings. African Greys are listed under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II, which means these species are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so unless their trade is strictly regulated.

• The Grey is a medium-sized parrot with a bare facial patch.
• Iris color is black for the first 4 months of age, but changes fully to yellow by 4 years old.
• The Timneh Grey parrot has a horn-colored beak, dark grey body, maroon tail, and white around the eyes.
• The Congo Grey has a black beak, silver-grey body that is lighter around eyes and rump, red tail, and white around the eyes.
• African Grey parrots are sexually monomorphic.

In recent years, research on a captive African grey parrot known as ‘Alex’ has highlighted the impressive intelligence of this species. As well as learning the names of over 50 objects, Alex was able to use English words to identify colours, shapes and quantities up to six, as well as to demonstrate an understanding of concepts such as bigger / smaller, same / different, and absence, and to use words and phrases to make simple requests. Such studies suggest that the intelligence of African grey parrots is comparable to that of marine mammals, apes and even young children.

Category: Flying Pets