[The picture is from The Maryland Zo0,the copyright belongs to the original author]

African grey parrots are super smart, gentle - tempered, and can talk like crazy. They can learn tons of words. Their IQ is kinda like that of a 5 - year - old kid, and they've got strong comprehension skills. They can understand what each sentence means. Other birds can't do this, so a lot of people think they're really cool and wanna have one.

Actually, humans have been keeping these parrots since ancient Rome over 2000 years ago. Back then, the Romans found that they could imitate human language and treated them as a symbol of the nobility. Grey parrots don't have a fixed call. They imitate all kinds of surrounding sounds. It's pretty interesting.

African grey parrots are native to the forests in central and western Africa. They mainly live in places with an altitude of no more than 2200 meters. They're medium - to large - sized parrots. They're about 28 to 39 centimeters long, with a wingspan of 46 to 52 centimeters and weigh around 350 to 500 grams. Their feathers are silver - grey, with white bare skin around the eyes. The belly feathers are a bit lighter, the tail is bright red, and the beak is black. Males and females look almost the same, with hardly any obvious differences.

There are two types of African grey parrots: the Congo grey parrot and the Timneh grey parrot. The Congo grey parrot has bright red feathers, while the Timneh grey parrot's feathers are darker, and its tail is dark red. It's cheaper than the Congo one. But their IQs are about the same. The main difference is in their appearance. The Congo grey parrot is 36 centimeters long, and the Timneh one is 32 centimeters, a 4 - centimeter difference. Also, the Congo grey parrot's beak is all black. Make sure you know which one it is before you buy. Don't let someone sell you a Timneh grey parrot as a Congo one. Watch out for being scammed.

[The picture is from Defend Them All Foundation,the copyright belongs to the original author]

African grey parrots are smart and gentle. They can interact really well with their owners. They're good at being cute, but they also hold grudges. If you don't see them for a few days (like three days or more), they might throw a tantrum at you, even though they look super cute. When you're teaching them, don't spoil them too much, and don't be too strict, or it'll backfire. Their IQ is like that of a 3 - to 7 - year - old kid. Each parrot has its own temper and emotions. Some are even left - handed or right - handed. They won't always listen because they've got their own ideas. You can think of them as naughty kids.

They like to live in groups. Sometimes the groups can be really big, with tens of thousands of parrots moving around together. They mainly eat seeds, fruits, nuts, leaves, and they also eat insects and invertebrates. When they fly, they fly high and fast, and their calls are sharp like whistles.

African grey parrots usually breed twice a year. The breeding season is from November to April. ¹They build nests in tree holes. Each clutch usually has 2 to 5 eggs, and the incubation period is about 21 to 30 days. The chicks reach sexual maturity about 3 to 5 years after fledging.

African grey parrots live a long time, about 60 years. That means a lot of people who keep them can't take care of them all the time. Grey parrots often have to move to new homes, which is really stressful for them. In nature, they're social animals and like to live with other parrots. But if you keep them in captivity, they'll feel lonely and anxious. Sometimes they even start plucking their feathers to relieve their uneasiness.

The downsides of grey parrots:

Once they learn to talk, they'll repeat the same words every day. They learn words for snack rewards. After a while, you'll get annoyed by hearing the same few sentences. People who like new things might not be suitable to keep grey parrots.

Grey parrots are a bit timid and more dependent on their owners than other parrots. If you travel a lot for work or are really busy and don't have time to be with them, they might get really anxious and even show signs of depression.

Grey parrots shed a lot of feather dust. If you touch them, your hands will be covered with something like chalk dust. If there are kids, pregnant women, or people with sensitive respiratory systems in your home, be careful.

Grey parrots are very likely to die suddenly before they're one year old because they're naturally prone to virus infections. But they're more stable after one year. If you're gonna buy a grey parrot, it's best to ask for a health certificate and a gender card to make sure it doesn't have any latent viruses.

[The picture is from Columbus Zoo,the copyright belongs to the original author]

Guide to keeping African grey parrots:

Environmental needs:

African grey parrots need enough space to fly around and move. You need to prepare a big enough cage for them. It's best if the cage is three times the length of their body so they can stretch their wings freely. Put the cage in a quiet and well - lit place, but keep it away from windows or air conditioners, or they'll be uncomfortable.

Parrots like to stand on perches, so get them a strong and comfortable one. It's best to choose a perch made of natural wood because they can peck and grind their beaks on it, like a toy. Remember to clean it regularly.

Diet:

African grey parrots need a balanced diet to stay healthy. Their food mainly includes seeds, nuts, and kernels (like raisins and almonds). But seeds shouldn't make up more than one - third of their diet because too many can lead to obesity or a lack of other nutrients. Parrots love fruits. Apples, pears, grapes, carrots, and spinach are all good for them. Fruits and vegetables are important for their health because they're rich in vitamins and minerals. You can give them some cooked eggs or low - fat dairy products (like yogurt) to supplement protein. Make sure the water is clean and fresh water is always available.

Social needs:

African grey parrots are very social birds. They need a lot of interaction with their owners, or they'll get anxious or depressed. Spend time with them every day, tell them stories, play games, and teach them to talk. Since they're so smart, they can learn a lot of interesting things through training. If you're often away for work or travel, it's best to find a companion for them or make sure they don't feel lonely in other ways.

Training and mental stimulation:

African grey parrots are very smart and can learn a lot of commands and words. You can encourage them to learn new words by repeating simple words or sentences. Whenever they pronounce a word correctly, give them a reward (like a snack). That'll motivate them more. Provide them with some puzzle toys or games like jigsaw puzzles and mazes to exercise their brains. If there's no challenge, they'll get bored.

Parrots understand the connection between behavior and rewards, so using snacks and praise to train them works better.

Health care:

Take your parrot to the vet regularly to make sure it's healthy, especially check its feathers, eyes, and beak. It's normal for parrots to shed feathers. Bathing them regularly can reduce feather dust. You can spray them gently with water or put a shallow water basin for them to bathe themselves. To prevent them from hurting themselves or flying away, remember to trim their flight feathers regularly. It's best to have a professional vet do it. African grey parrots are prone to certain viruses. It's best to do a health check before buying a parrot to make sure it doesn't carry any viruses.

Hygiene:

It's really important to keep the cage clean. Clean up food residues and feces every day and wash the cage thoroughly once a week. Also, change the lining paper regularly to keep it hygienic. Keep the food bowls and water bottles clean to prevent bacteria from growing.

Proper rest:

Although African grey parrots are active, they also need plenty of rest. Make sure they have a quiet environment to rest at night. Avoid loud noises. It's best to cover their cage to provide them with a comfortable and quiet sleeping space.

Even though African grey parrots make great pets, their survival situation is really tough. Due to illegal capture and habitat destruction, the number of wild African grey parrots has decreased by 79%. Tons of parrots are captured every year for international trade, which poses a huge threat to their population.

Source:

[1]https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Eastern_indigo_snake