The African Grey parrot belongs to the Psittacus genus. Although there seems to be some controversy, the general consensus seems to be that there are two subspecies. The Congo African grey parrot has the scientific name of Psittacus erithacus erithacus and the Timneh African grey parrot is called Psittacus erithacus timneh.
It would seem that African greys have been kept as pets for thousands of years. The hieroglyphic scripts of the Egyptians clearly depict pet parrots. Parrots were also kept by the ancient Greeks and Romans. More recently, King Henry VIII had an African grey as a pet.
The African grey is a native of West and Central Africa. It is found in primary and secondary rainforest.
Of the two species, the Congo African grey parrot is the larger. Congo African grey parrots have light grey plumage. The tails are a cherry red and the beak is black. They are about 33cm long. The Timneh African grey parrot is smaller. The plumage is darker and the tail is a dark maroon. The upper mandible or beak is a light, horn-colour.
African greys may bond with one person if they are not socialised regularly with others. They can be timid with strangers. Being very intelligent birds they need constant stimulation and diversion if they are not to get bored. Bored birds get into mischief or develop bad habits so rotate their toys from time to time. African greys are quick to learn and mimic repetitive electronic sounds such as video games and the ring of a telephone. Even the sound of a tap dripping will be learnt and added to their repertoire.
As aviary birds, the African grey is affectionate and intelligent. As already stated, they are good mimics. However they can be unpredictable and it is best to keep them away from small children. The bite is painful and their claws can also cause nasty scratches.
If not hand-reared, they take quite some time to become tame. All aviary parrots need a lot of attention. Because this species is so intelligent, they need at least three hours a day out of their cage. If they are not kept stimulated and occupied, they are liable to start feather-picking.
African Grey Parrot breeding can be influenced by the size and type of nest box that the parents were reared in. Offer a choice of boxes and/or logs in a variety of sizes and let the birds choose. African Greys nest from August to February. Place the nest in a shaded area and high in the aviary but not so close to the roof that it becomes too hot. The box or log needs to have a length and depth of 50 to 60cm. Place the nest at any angle from 45o through to almost vertical. In the wild, the nest will have a natural lining of wood chips and perhaps rotted vegetation.
Africa – Birds & Birding Magazine strives to foster an awareness and appreciation of the continent’s wild birds, celebrating their considerable diversity and number, while being ever-mindful of the great conservation challenges that they face.
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