African Grey Parrot

Is an African grey parrot right for you?

The African grey is one of the most admired parrots for its talking ability and intelligence. That fame has also been its misfortune: hundreds of thousands have been taken from the wild, and wild populations are now endangered. At home it is a sensitive bird that stresses easily and can live 40 to 60 years. It is not the right choice for most households, and it is best to decide knowing that from the start.

Before you adopt

The lifespan question: a well-kept grey can live 40 to 60 years. A bird you take on at 35 may well outlive you. Think now about who will take it on, and what happens if you move or your health changes.

Avian vet: vets experienced with birds are limited in many areas, and blood tests, X-rays, and anaesthesia in large parrots require expertise. Find an avian or exotics clinic you can reach before bringing the bird home, and keep up regular check-ups.

Legal status: the grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) and the timneh parrot, now considered a separate species, were moved to CITES Appendix I, the convention's strictest level, in October 2016. Commercial international trade in wild-caught birds is prohibited. National rules vary, so check the law where you live. In Turkey, for example, the wildlife possession regulation treats Appendix I species as strictly protected, forbids keeping undocumented wild animals, and requires proof of legal origin such as an invoice, breeder's sales document, and CITES paperwork; birds are marked with closed leg rings, and chicks of these species hatched at home must be reported to the regional nature conservation office within 15 days.

Do not pay for an illegal bird: a bird with no paperwork, no closed ring, or sold as a "cheap baby" or "smuggled in" was most likely wild-caught or trafficked. Buying it to "rescue" it pays for the next capture, and the bird can be confiscated. A study of Turkey's parrot trade from 1982 to 2016 found the grey was the most imported species, which shows how heavily it is traded.

Character and social needs

Greys mimic words, phrases, whistles, and household sounds (phones, microwaves, coughs) with startling clarity. Still, not every bird talks, and talking ability is a poor reason to choose a pet.

They often bond with one person in the family, and that close bond can turn into aggression towards others. New objects, moving house, visitors, or a change in routine can easily unsettle them. Bored or lonely greys commonly develop screaming and feather plucking. Several hours a day out of the cage interacting with you is a basic need.

Cage and living space

• Size: a common recommendation is roughly 90 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 120 cm tall, with 2 to 2.5 cm bar spacing. Treat this as the minimum.
• Material: the strong beak bends thin wire and strips paint. Choose stainless steel or a sturdy cage with a lead- and zinc-free coating.
• Perches: natural wooden branches of different diameters. Avoid sandpaper perches.
• Toys and mental work: wood and cardboard to chew, foraging puzzles, boxes with hidden food. Introduce new things slowly; sudden changes can frighten this species.
• Location: against a wall, in a room where the family spends time, out of direct sun and draughts. Never the kitchen. A cage left in the sun on a hot balcony can be fatal.
• Free time: supervised time out of the cage every day, windows closed, cables tidied away, other pets in another room.

Feeding

• Base: most of the diet should be pellets formulated for large parrots. Switch from seed to pellets gradually and with veterinary guidance.
• Fresh vegetables: dark leafy greens, carrot, sweet potato, broccoli, bell pepper, squash; daily.
• Fruit: small amounts.
• Seeds and nuts: limited, as treats and training rewards.
• Calcium and vitamin D3: this species is prone to acute low blood calcium (hypocalcaemia) and depends on UVB light for calcium balance more than other parrots. Ask your vet about safe natural sunlight (not through glass) or a bird-specific UVB lamp.
• Water: fresh every day.

Toxic foods: avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, salty and fatty foods, onion, garlic, fruit pits.

Household hazards: overheated non-stick pan and oven coatings (PTFE fumes), aerosol sprays, scented candles, cigarette smoke, bleach fumes. A bird's respiratory system is far more sensitive to these than ours.

Health and lifespan

Birds hide illness. Have a new bird examined by an avian vet straight away; veterinary sources recommend check-ups twice a year.

• Hypocalcaemia: shows as poor balance, falling off the perch, trembling, and seizures, often triggered by excitement or stress. A bird that falls from its perch or has a seizure needs emergency care.
• Feather plucking and feather damage: common in greys. Loneliness, boredom, chronic stress, poor sleep, and diet all play a part. Rule out medical causes with a vet first, then adjust the environment. Some birds keep plucking mildly even with good care.
• Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD): an incurable viral disease to which greys are among the most susceptible. Signs include abnormal, pinched, or bloody feathers, feather loss, and repeated infections. Test a new bird before it meets other birds.
• Aspergillosis (fungal infection): greys are predisposed. Look for voice change, tail-bobbing breathing, and lethargy. Mouldy food, poor ventilation, and vitamin A deficiency raise the risk.
• Vitamin A deficiency: seen with seed-heavy diets; causes sneezing, nasal discharge, and swelling around the eyes.

If the bird sits fluffed at the bottom of the cage, stops eating, has changed droppings, breathes with an open beak, or goes suddenly quiet, see a vet without waiting.

Taming and training

1. Settling in. In the first weeks talk calmly and do not try to grab the bird.
2. Trust. Start by having it take a favourite treat from your hand; let it choose to approach.
3. Target training and stepping up. Use positive reinforcement. Shouting, banging the cage, or punishment can permanently damage trust in this species.
4. Do not reward screaming. Rushing over when it screams reinforces the behaviour; give attention during quiet moments.
5. Hormonal behaviour. Stroking the back and under the wings can stimulate breeding behaviour; keep affection to head and neck scratches.

Wing clipping is controversial; many avian vets recommend making the home safe instead.

History and life in the wild

The grey parrot is native to the forests of equatorial Africa, from Cameroon to Congo and Uganda. It is about 33 cm long and weighs around 400 grams, recognisable by its grey plumage, black beak, and bright red tail. The smaller, maroon-tailed timneh parrot is now treated as a separate species.

Because of the heavy cage-bird trade and habitat loss, it is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List; more than 359,000 individuals were recorded in international trade between 1994 and 2003. For a responsible owner, the acceptable sources are documented legal breeding or a parrot that needs a new home.