• Free shipping on all orders
  • Free two years warranty extension
  • Free and easy returns

Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

10 Vet-Verified Facts About African Grey Parrots

Adam Mann

By Adam Mann

African Grey Parrot with food

Vet approved

Dr. Chyrle Bonk Photo

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Chyrle Bonk

DVM (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

The African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) might not be the most colorful parrot breed in the world, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t interesting, here are facts for you to check out. We’ve highlighted ten of those for you below.

Whether you’re thinking about pet African grey parrots or these birds in the wild, they’re all beautiful and interesting, so just keep reading to learn a bit more.

bird divider

The 10 Facts About African Grey Parrots

1. They Are a Protected Species

African grey parrots have become such a popular pet that trading, along with destruction of their habitat, has led to them being listed as a protected species. This means they aren’t on the verge of extinction just yet, but they may be if something isn’t done to regulate trading practices. As you can imagine, this has led to some less than ethical trading of African greys. If you are looking into getting one of these birds as a pet, be extra sure of the origins to ensure that they are captive bred and not trafficked from the wild.


2. They Are Very Social

In the wild, African grey parrots interact with many other African grey parrots, and they live in large broods where they can interact with both young and old birds. Not only do they spend time near other parrots, but they also spend time vocalizing with them.

The African grey parrot prefers to be a part of a larger brood, and as a pet without any additional birds around, an owner might have a hard time meeting the parrot’s social needs.

Congo African grey parrot is standing on perch in the cage
Image by: Hasbi Sahin, Shutterstock

3. They Can Be Territorial

African grey parrots can get very protective of their space, food, and toys. While you can mitigate this with plenty of attention and time for them to exercise and for mental stimulation, it’s not always easy to do, and once they get a bit territorial, it can be challenging to correct.


4. There Is More Than One Type

While most African grey parrots look alike, there are two distinct types. The most common African grey parrot is actually the Congo African grey, and the second most common is the Timneh African grey. The Congo African grey parrot tends to be a bit larger and is a slightly different feather color pattern.


5. They Are Very Smart

The African grey parrot is an incredibly smart bird with brain development that’s comparable to a human child between 3 and 6 years old. They can learn up to 1,000 words and recognize shapes and colors, as well as understand numbers.

african grey parrot plucking its feathers
Image Credit: Ian Fox, Shutterstock

6. They Can Talk

Some parrots are better talkers than others, and the African grey parrot is pretty good at mimicking sounds. You can get them to respond to questions, and they’ll pick up sounds from their environment, often mimicking various things from television shows.


7. They’re Hard to Care For

While the African grey parrot can be an interesting pet, they’re among the most challenging to care for. There are various reasons for this, and if you’re thinking about adopting one, you need to be able to dedicate lots of time and energy to it.

They’re incredibly social creatures and need to spend a good chunk of time with you. They’re super smart and need loads of mental stimulation, and they’re very active birds that need to have plenty of time to stretch their wings. It’s a lot to keep up with, so ensure you know exactly what you’re signing up for before you get one.


8. They Are Very Active

These are active birds, and need 2-3 hours of exercise time every single day! If you’re keeping one as a pet, that’s a lot of energy you’ll need to find a way to help them burn.

You don’t always need an aviary, but you will need to find plenty of time to keep them out of their enclosure to help them burn off all the energy they have!

African Grey Parrot on a branch
Image Credit: Mikhail Nilov, Pexels

9. They Have Long Lifespans

If you’re thinking about bringing an African grey parrot home, ensure you know exactly what you’re signing up for, including who will care for them after you’re gone. That’s because they can live up to 80 years, so there’s a possibility they live longer than you!


10. They’re Monogamous

In the wild, the African grey parrot will only take on one partner, living a completely monogamous life after this. Both parents play an active role in raising their young, and they can be a bit altruistic towards each other. They’re loving birds, and in the wild, they will find one partner to share all this love with.

bird divider

Conclusion

Now that you know a little more about the African grey parrot, you can understand why so many people are obsessed with these amazing birds! They might not be as colorful as the Macaw, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting.

In fact, many people prefer the African grey parrot, and after checking out all the interesting facts on our list, we’re sure you can see why!


Featured Image Credit: Deanne Scanlan, Pexels

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Hepper for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Related Articles

Further Reading

Vet Articles

Latest Vet Answers

The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Hepper for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!