African Grey parrots have been kept as pets for thousands of years! These birds are highly intelligent and are known for clearly mimicking human speech and other sounds.
As the name suggests, these birds come from Africa. The African Grey Parrot is also known as the Congo African Grey (CAG) or Timneh African Grey (TAG). These birds sport lovely grey feathers, some with white edges. Congo African Greys have shiny black beaks and bright red tail feathers; Timneh African Greys have bone colored beaks and deep maroon tail feathers. Those beaks are extremely strong! Make sure your African Grey parrot has lots of toys to chew on.
This is a large bird, growing to approximately thirteen inches from beak to tail. Your African Grey parrot will need lots of cage space and time out of the cage to stretch his wings and get plenty of exercise. A bored African Grey parrot will let you know — quite loudly — that he is not happy. Make sure your African Grey parrot gets at least two hours of time out of the cage every day.
African Grey parrots are at the top of the intelligence list for parrot species. However, that high IQ means your bird will need more time and attention. African Grey parrots do well on a regular schedule and don’t like to deviate from the daily routine.
Beware: like toddlers, African Grey parrots have a reputation for repeating everything they hear. You may need to watch your mouth around your feathered friend! African Grey parrot owners have reported that their birds can mimic telephones and microwaves, dogs and cats, and human speech.
Expect to be with your African Grey parrot for a long time — the average lifespan is fifty years! Some owners have reported African Grey parrots that lived well into their seventies. African Grey parrots bond strongly to their owners and can be very affectionate.