African Grey Parrot

African grey parrots are herbivores, which means their diet mainly consists of plants. They primarily eat nuts and oil palm fruits but also enjoy leaves, maize, bark, and flowers.

At the Zoo, grey parrots are offered a specially formulated parrot pellet and various fruits and vegetables.

This species is found in western coastal areas of Africa along the Gulf of Guinea, south to the Congo Basin, and across to Uganda and southwest Kenya.

African grey parrots typically are found in dense forests, mangroves, wooded savannahs, cultivated areas, and sometimes gardens.

Grey parrots have several predators, including snakes, vultures, hawks, and some large cats. Monkeys also prey on their eggs and young chicks in the nests.

African grey parrots have faced a serious decline in their natural habitats in recent decades, primarily because of excessive trapping for the international pet trade. They are one of the most trafficked parrot species in the world.

In addition, their populations are at risk due to habitat loss caused by deforestation for agriculture, logging, and human development. This destruction of their homes affects their food supply, places to rest, and ability to nest successfully.

African grey parrots are silvery-gray, with a darker head and wings and a lighter belly. Their tail feathers are bright red. They have bare white skin around their eyes and a large black beak.

Their beak is very useful. It can crush nuts and help the bird preen its feathers. It also works like a third foot when the parrot moves on branches. The bird's feet are unique because the two outer toes point backward while the two inner toes point forward, allowing the parrot to grasp and manipulate objects.

African grey parrots are very social birds that usually form lifelong pair bonds, typically starting between the ages of three and five years. Each pair builds their own nest in a tree, often around 100 feet above the ground.

Breeding usually happens during the dry season, and some groups might mate twice a year. The female lays three to five eggs, which hatch in about 20 to 30 days. The young parrots leave the nest when they are around 10 to 12 weeks old, but they stay with their parents for an extra two to three years to learn how to communicate and behave in their flock. During this time, they often show submissive behavior towards older birds.

In their native range, African grey parrots have a specific vocalization pattern throughout the day. They are usually quiet from sunset to dawn. When the sun rises, they start making noise before looking for food during the day. In the evening, they vocalize again when they return to their resting spots. Their calls serve important purposes, like helping the flock stay together and warning each other of danger. They use contact calls to find each other and loud alarm calls to alert the group.

Young parrots learn these sounds by listening to their parents and other birds. African grey parrots are very social and can mimic calls from other bird species and even human voices.

African grey parrots are highly social and nest in large, noisy flocks, although family groups occupy their own nesting tree. During the day, they break into smaller flocks and fly long distances to forage.

African grey parrots are known for being very smart. Studies have shown that they have excellent thinking skills, making them one of the most intelligent types of animals. Researchers found that these parrots can do more than just copy sounds; they can actually understand what those sounds mean. They can figure things out when choosing food and even work together with other parrots.