African Grey Parrot

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

Congo African greys and the smaller Timneh are the parrots people mean when they say a bird talks like a roommate. They are 12 to 14 inches and roughly 400 to 650 grams, with a brain that notices schedule changes, tone of voice, and whether you hid the sunflower seeds. Lifespan is 40 to 60 years. Noise is moderate, which means loud contact calls, not a constant scream, and also means a phone-perfect imitation of your smoke alarm.

Foraging is the minimum enrichment

A cage of at least 36 by 24 by 48 inches is a bedroom, not the whole life. Daily out-of-cage time, foraging toys that take longer than ten seconds, and a predictable household matter more than another mirror. Greys do badly with chaos: shouting, erratic bedtimes, and being passed from house to house show up later as screaming or feather damage.

Diet is a pellet base, vegetables, some fruit, and controlled nuts. They are prone to low blood calcium, which can look like seizures or weakness. Offer a cuttlebone or mineral block and do not live on seed. Vitamin A deficiency follows an all-seed bowl and shows up as respiratory trouble. The Association of Avian Veterinarians is the right starting point for a clinic that has actually handled this.

Paperwork, money, and red flags

Buy captive-bred. Wild-caught greys and laundered paperwork are a legal and welfare mess, and CITES Appendix I exists because the wild birds were hammered by trade. A pet grey from a careful breeder often costs several thousand dollars. The cage, the stand, and the avian visit add more. Annual food and toy replacement is a few hundred dollars before any illness.

Feather-destructive behavior needs a medical workup, not a scolding. Aspergillosis, atherosclerosis, and heavy-metal poisoning are the other problems avian vets watch for. A fluffed bird, a tail bob, or a bird on the cage floor is urgent. Use the quiet-bird guide and an emergency clinic, with the checker only to confirm what you already suspect.

Greys suit experienced bird people with stable homes. They punish boredom with decades of leftover time.

African grey commitment

How long do African greys live?

Often 40 to 60 years. Some live longer. A grey is an estate-planning decision, not a birthday present for a teenager who will leave for college.

Are they legal to buy?

They are CITES Appendix I. In the United States you want a captive-bred bird with paperwork, not a vague import story. Interstate rules and airline rules also apply.

Why do they pluck?

Feather-destructive behavior is common when the bird is bored, sick, hormonal, or living in chaos. It is not fixed with a bigger toy once the habit is set. Rule out medical causes with an avian vet first.

Can a beginner keep one?

The care level on this page is advanced for a reason. A beginner who already lives with a smaller parrot and has an avian vet can consider it. A beginner who liked a talking video should not.