African Grey Parrot Facts & Worksheets

The African Grey Parrot is Africa‘s largest parrot. It is one of the world’s most proficient talking/mimicking birds, earning it a reputation among bird enthusiasts. African grey parrots do not only seem to be one of the foremost popular pet bird species, but they’re also among the most intelligent. 

See the fact file below for more information on African Grey Parrot, or you can download our 28-page African Grey Parrot worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

• The African Grey parrot has a distinct appearance. Its feathers are predominantly gray with a bright red tail. Some of the feathers have a white border, which adds to the elegance of the bird’s plumage. The hues of adults and juveniles differ slightly. Adult birds have golden irises, while chicks have dark irises and grayer tails. 
• The parrot grows to around 13 inches long, has a wingspan of 18 to 20.5 inches, and weighs between 14.75 and 18.5 ounces.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

SPECIFIC SPECIES

Congo African Grey Parrot

• The Congo African Grey is the largest of the three grey parrot species (the other two being the smaller maroon-tailed Timneh and the darker-colored Psittacus erithacus princes). 
• As the term implies, the body color is pastel or slate gray; the feathers for the head and chest have white borders, creating a fluted effect. The coverts of the wing feathers are quite darker, with vivid crimson color for the tail. Their upper and lower mandibles, similar to their beaks, are all black.
• Greys have a masked appearance due to a wide face area that extends beyond the back of the eye. On a young bird (under one-year-old), the iris is black or gray, while on a mature bird,  the iris is yellow. 
• A Congo Grey’s overall body length is 14 to 16 inches, with a wingspan of 18 to 20 inches. Depending on the place of origin, the weight might range from 350 to 650 grams.
• Congo African Greys can be found from Angola to the Ivory Coast, as well as inland from Kenya to Tanzania. They are often kept as pets (they are among the top three most regularly traded birds) and can be found in captivity all over the world. They inhabit rainforests, cultivated land, mangroves, woodland savannas, and gardens in the wild.

Timneh African Grey Parrot

• The Timneh African Grey (Psittacus erithacus timneh) is the lesser of two African grey parrot subspecies. The popularity of the Congo’s smaller relative has surged in recent years.
• Timneh African Greys are native to a small region of Africa that encompasses Liberia and the Ivory Coast. 
• Timneh Greys are a darker shade of grey than Congo Greys. Darker gray feathers cover its head, back, and upper chest, and a unique “V” shape of dark feathers covers a lighter grey hue on the belly. The Timneh white scalloping of head feathers is likewise more noticeable. Its dark grey feathers give a bluish hue under certain lights.
• Compared to the Congo African Grey, the Timneh has a shorter body length, ranging from 9 to 11 inches from beak to tail, and a wingspan of 13 to 15 inches. The weight can range from 250 to 375 grams.

Congo African Grey vs. Timneh African Grey

• The Congo African Grey dwarfs the Timneh in size.
• The Timneh African Grey is more adaptive and quieter than the Congo.
• The Timneh is darker grey in tone and features a v-shaped design on the upper chest.
• Congo and Timneh African Greys have the mental capacity of a five-year-old youngster and the emotional maturity of a perpetual two-year-old. Because of their faster maturation rate, Timneh African Greys are thought to have a more stable personality than their larger counterparts. With the proper support, devotion, and care, Congos can be just as steady. Birds vary in their sociability. Both subspecies are, on the whole, wary birds. African Greys prefer to take a step back and examine their surroundings before becoming involved.
• Congo African Greys and Timneh African Greys appear to communicate in the same way, and gender seems to have no bearing on whether they learn to speak or not. Timneh African Greys may create rudimentary words around six months, although Congo African Greys typically start talking after a year. Both can become proficient at imitating everyday household sounds, to the point where they can often trick owners into believing there is a knock on the door or a ringing phone.
• Congo and Timneh African Greys both make excellent friends. 

HABITAT

• Timnehs are found in a narrower area, encompassing Liberia and the Ivory Coast region, and both subspecies of African Grey parrots are located in West and Central Africa.
• The African Greys’ natural habitat is lowland swamps and mangroves in tropical African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast.
• While they prefer the rainforest, they have been spotted on forest edges, in gallery forests (forests that are located beside streams or rivers), and in gardens. 

WAY OF LIFE

• African Grey parrots in the wild live in big flocks of up to several hundred birds, which can be seen flying between foraging and roosting places. They communicate by making high-pitched sounds and blowing whistles. They are very sociable and use a range of noisy vocalizations to coordinate flocking, warn of danger, and vent rage toward rivals. The birds have been observed imitating the sounds of other birds and even bats.
• They migrate away from feeding sites at night and roost in flocks. To avoid predators, they sleep on coastal or river islands or near clearings wherever possible; it’s not uncommon to see over 100 birds sitting in a single tree. They love to sleep in the tops of trees, particularly on oil palm fronds.

DIET

• African Grey parrots are herbivores (frugivores, granivores).
• Seeds, nuts, fruits (particularly African Oil Palm), flowers, tree bark, insects, snails, berries, and some green leafy matter make up most of the African Grey parrots’ diet in the wild.

RELATIONSHIP TO HUMANS

In culture

• The color gray is significant to the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Its tail feathers and image are utilized to make masks during their Gelede social and religious holidays. The red coloring of the tail feathers is thought to signify both menstrual blood and the brilliant red oil on which they feed. Because of the birds’ noisy nature, they were portrayed as spies and sentinels in Yoruba legend.

As pets

• The African Grey is still prevalent in the pet trade, and there are numerous captive breeding projects. The species is engaging and intelligent, and it builds strong ties to its human caregivers due to its social, swarming behavior. It can, however, become destructive and aggressive if not properly educated. Responsible breeders will not sell young birds until they can feed themselves. After they have mastered that ability, there is a two-month window during which they should be transferred to other homes, coinciding with the introduction of wild fledglings to the rest of the flock.

REPRODUCTION

• African Grey parrots are monogamous and have lifelong pair bonds.
• The birds breed during the dry season in most areas; some populations breed twice a year. African grey parrots mate for life and build their nests high above the ground in tree holes. In a clutch, they usually lay three to five eggs, one every two to four days. The eggs are incubated for about 30 days by the female grey while the male guards the nest cavity and gathers food to feed her. When baby greys are 12 weeks old, they become independent and are cared for by both parents.

THREATS

• More than 359,000 grey parrots were traded on the international market between 1994 and 2003. Due to its popularity in the pet business, the African grey parrot was designated as “near endangered” in 2007. 
• Its extraordinary ability to replicate the human voice and its extended longevity make it the most popular avian pet in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. Every year, it is estimated that up to 21% of the world’s population is harvested. This, combined with continuous habitat degradation in Africa, is causing a somewhat rapid population reduction.
• These lovely birds are also killed for their meat and parts, which are utilized in traditional medicine. 
• African grey parrots are thought to be in rapid decline in the wild due to intensive harvesting of wild birds as well as habitat destruction and have thus been classified as endangered.

FUN FACTS

• Alex was a well-known Congo African Grey. Alex recognized many objects by name, form, and color. He also knew how to count to six and comprehended the concepts of “same,” “different,” “larger,” and “smaller.” 
• N’kisi is a well-known Congo African Grey with an extensive vocabulary, a sense of humor, and potentially telepathic skills!
• Right-footed African Grey parrots have a greater vocabulary than left-footed African Grey parrots.
• African Grey parrots were once targeted for hunting for food and their stunning red tail feathers. It was believed that feathers had magical qualities, so headdresses were made from them. 
• They puff up their feathers to appear more significant when they sense danger.
• The Ogoni people of Nigeria safeguard the population of African Greys. The people exchange the naturally molted red feathers for children’s school supplies, clothing, and books.
• The ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians placed a high value on African Grey parrots. Even enslaved people were thought to be less valuable.
• The national bird of Sao Tome and Principe in Africa is the African Grey.
• Marie Antoinette, King Henry VIII, Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill, Hilary Swank, and Angelina Jolie are just a few famous people who have owned African Grey parrots.

African Grey Parrot Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about African Grey Parrot across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about African Grey Parrot, which is Africa’s largest parrot and one of the world’s most proficient talking/mimicking birds.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. African Grey Parrot Facts 
2. Bird-tificate
3. Chain of Words
4. Word Play
5. Same, Same but Different
6. Be Aware
7. Follow the Sign
8. Fact or Bluff
9. DIY Paper Parrot
10. Block Game
11. I Can Rhyme!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do African grey parrots like to be petted?

African greys are social parrots that need attention. They don’t like to be hugged or touched too much, but some people do not mind snuggling with them.

How intelligent is an African grey parrot?

Because African greys have the same level of cognitive ability as four to six-year-old children, they can identify objects by color, material, shape, and number. In addition, they can learn up to 1000 words.

What human food can African grey parrots eat?

The following vegetables are suitable for feeding: celery, spinach, asparagus, tomatoes, cauliflower, corn, pumpkin, potatoes, peas, carrots, cabbage, mustard greens, chilies, yams, and plantains. Please note that potato and tomato leaves are not edible.

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