The African grey parrot offers intelligence and bonding habits that many other parrot species don’t. The African grey will form a bond with you, talk to you, be playful with you, get angry with you, and love you to pieces! What else could you want from a family pet?

This bird is known by scientists as the Psittacus erithacus–genus and species. It has that one species only; but there are two subspecies. The first of these is named after the species, so it’s known as Psittacus erithacus erithacus, more commonly called the Congo African grey. The second is the Psittacus erithacus timneh, or the Timneh African grey. The Congo greys come from the central and western sections of Africa, and they are the larger of the two going at from 14 to 21 ounces. The Timneh grays are indigenous to Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast area, and they weigh a few ounces less. Avian experts are debating whether the greys found on Principe Island constitute a third subspecies, tentatively called P.e. Princeps, but many believe the Princeps is a variation of the Congo greys.

African greys usually have a grey or white patch of skin around the eyes as well as black feet. They all possess a wonderful, smooth grey plumage, which is soft looking. The Congos are not as dark. They have solid black beaks and dark red tail feathers when they become mature. Timnehs have darker grey feathers with some traces of maroon and taupe. They also have a beak that is two-toned.

In the wild, the African grey lives in a flock. It is the habit of this species to mate for life. This is a bond that is not broken unless death or separation occurs. Because they usually live at the tops of trees, their diet consists mostly of fruits and nuts. African greys are on alert in the wild. They have to be to keep out of reach of predators. They are very intelligent, so they have a lot of success at staying safe.

If you bring one of these terrific birds home, what can you expect to happen? First of all, you will come to think of your African grey as a kid. Usually they will exhibit the emotional maturity of a human child about the age of two; however, their intelligence is actually equal to that of a five year old child. Parrots often bond with one person because it is their natural instinct to bond with a mate. You will often see this bonding behavior when a bird is brought into a household.

You must take responsibility for introducing your bird to your family and gaining his trust. If you are your bird’s favorite, then you must take the necessary steps to be sure he socializes appropriately with other family members. These birds must use keen observational skills in the wild. For this reason, they take great notice of their keeper’s emotions. As a matter of fact, your bird will sense if you are feeling down, and he will be eager to spend some time interacting with you.

He definitely will not respond well if he’s surrounded by constant shouting, loud noises, and unhappy or mad faces. He won’t take kindly to having his beak tapped. Greys are flock animals and will be expected to be treated as an equal… although he may have a strong desire to be the enter of attention!

When you bring home a parrot, it is like adopting a child. Understand that African greys remain immature for approximately 5 years. After that time, it will take another 5 years for the bird to reach full maturity. The grey has a life expectancy on average of 40 to 50 years.

How do you get your bird to play with you? Some tips include getting him to rock or bob with you. Keep in mind you have to move slowly at first because he will be slow to trust you. Other people report that when they bring home a new toy for their bird, they play with it first–and make a big deal over it–so that the bird wants it, too! Many experts recommend keeping them with you throughout your shared time at home. If you’re in the living room, the kitchen, or even the bathroom, take his cage or his perch with you. He’ll enjoy watching whatever you’re doing, and he loves to be praised.

The most fun is getting your African grey to make sounds and to talk. These birds are famous for their ability to mimic the sounds around them. African greys can imitate animals and sound effects to a “T”. They can also imitate human voices.

The African grey parrot makes a wonderful addition to any family. You are going to love having this bird!