The African Grey is one of the more popular parrots kept by the aviculturist. Psittacus Erithacus, the Congo African Grey, Their pale head and grey body is strikingly offset by their brilliant red tail feathers. African Greys are probably best known for their astonishing ability to mimic the human voice and an impressive array of environmental sounds. A well-trained African grey can learn hundreds of words, phrases, and sounds.
African Grey Parrots are charming and the most intelligent amongst all other birds. They are incredibly adorable. These grey parrots mime and can distinguish between different voices. They usually whistle, squeak, shriek, etc. In fact, the owner has to familiarize himself with the parrot’s renditions of the microwave, telephone, doorbell, dripping water, and other sounds around it.
The African grey parrot is one of the most talented talking/ mimicking birds on the planet, giving its reputation among bird enthusiasts. It’s one of the most recognizable species to bird learners as well — everyone knows the African grey parrot. This parrot is one of the oldest psittacine species kept by bird enthusiasts.
They can make outstanding companions, and they are incredibly social. The decision to add an African Grey to the family should not be taken lightly. They require lots of training and consistent love and interaction. It is a life-long commitment, but one that can be extremely rewarding. Congo Greys are large with a light grey face and bright red tail.
These parrots have an ash-grayish color, with white edgings all over the most distinctive body on the head. They have a small and short tail with a ting of intense red in them. African grey parrots have short, strong, and black beak. Their eyes can be light yellow or red in color. They have dark grey colored feet with black nails.
Natural Habitat
The African grey parrot is found in equatorial Africa, meaning that it’s native to the African countries near the equator.
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 friendly.
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 tricky 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 family members.
Life Span
The lifespan of an African grey parrot is around 40 – 80 years in captivity. If well taken care of, African grey can leave up to 5o to 80 years more.
Caring for an African Grey Parrot
African Grey Parrots are highly intelligent animals that require social interaction and a stimulating environment. Your pet will love spending lots of quality time talking and playing with you, so try teaching it to speak or training it to do basic tricks. Enriching its habitat will improve its quality of life, so offer a mix of perches and hide treats throughout its enclosure. Puzzles and chewable objects are great entertainment sources, so provide your African Grey with a steady rotation of store-bought and homemade toys. Ideally, this bird’s minimum cage size would be 36″ long, 24″ wide, and 66″ high with ¾” wire spacing.
Diet and Nutrition
We feed our African Grey Congo Parrots, a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, fresh kale, broccoli, carrots, apples, and peppers. All fruits and vegetables must be thoroughly washed to remove harmful chemicals before being fed to the bird. We also provide a variety of Uccello seeds, pellets, and nuts. Feeding pet birds the right foods is essential for their health. Balancing a parrot’s diet from the beginning may prevent many health and behavior problems. When feeding pet birds, we must realize that the species of birds we have as companion pets do not all have the same dietary needs.
