The most intelligent and talkative pet bird

African Grey

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.

​

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

Life span An average of 50 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.