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About African Grey Parrots

Parrot Articles > About African Grey Parrots | You are here

About African Grey Parrots

About African Grey Parrots

February 10th, 2012

Baby African Grey Parrots

The African Grey Parrot is the perfect mix of brains and is we believe one of the most beautiful parrots of them all.

This species of parrot has become quickly recognised as the best speaking parrot of the lot, I write this while listening to Reggie our family Grey chatters in the background, god knows where he picks up half the things he says, he seems to pick up words and string them together, now that’s intelligence to the higher degree!!!

While many parrots learn some words or phrases, many cases have been documented of African Greys learning multiple lines of songs, prayers, or plays. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the best talking parrot or parrot like bird as a African Grey named Prudle. Prudle was captured near Jinja, Uganda in 1958 and when “he” retired from public life in 1977 had a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words.

The speed in which African Grey Parrots can pick up new words is phenominal, they can pick words only after hearing them a handful of times, so be warned if you are considering taking on a pet African Grey Parrot just be very careful what you say in earshot of it, Reggie has an amazing vocabulary of obsecenities, which can be somewhat troublesome when you have children or the boss visiting for dinner.

African Grey Parrots don’t just mimmick speach they also pick up all storts of weird and wonderful sounds, Reggie has a habit of dialing a number on the mobile telephone, having a conversation with some random person, saying goodbye then hanging up with the beep of the phone. You could quickly find your pet African Grey mimmicking the microwave, other birds or animals you have in the house or even trumping if you have a flatuance problem. Many owners and some studies suggest that Greys (and other parrots) don’t just mimic but can use words learned in new combinations to convey new wants, needs and desires. Alex, a famous Grey that has been studied for years by Dr. Irene Pepperberg, invented the term “long yellow” to express his desire for more corn on the cob. A European study found Greys to have the intellectual capacity of a 5-year-old human child with the emotional development of a human 2 year old (read as terrible two year old).

African Greys have become extremely popular in homes all over the UK and are not as exotic as other parrots you may wish to own, they are pretty easy to breed given the right conditions, they’re retrospectively inexpensive they don’t take up as much space and they love human interaction … the perfect mix.

There are three species or types of the African Grey Parrot they are Psittacus Erithacus, Psittacus Erithacus Timneh and Psittacus Erithacus Princeps all of which are explained on the African Grey species page.


Other About African Grey Articles

African Grey Parrot Species Defined
The African Grey Parrots are all in the genius Psittacus. Only a single species makes up this genus, Psittacus erithacus. This species is further divided into three subspecies or races … Read More >>>

Mimicry And Intelligence
While comparative judgements of animal intelligence are always very difficult to make objectively, Psittaciformes are generally regarded as being the most intelligent of birds … Read More >>>

African Grey Parrots As Pets
The history of African Grey parrots kept as pets dates back over 4,000 years. Some Egyptian hieroglyphics clearly depict pet parrots [verification needed]. The ancient Greeks also … Read More >>>

Breeding African Grey Parrots
African grey parrots are often hand reared by professional breeders and handlers for the pet trade as they make affectionate and rewarding pets. They are usually long lived … Read More >>>


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