Timneh Congo African Grey Parrot

The origin of the Timneh Congo African Grey Parrot is Liberia, a smaller area of Africa. It was considered a subspecies of the Grey parrots but is now identified as a full species. The scientific name of it is Psittacus erithacus timneh.

In addition to this, it is medium-sized and can become a great pet because of its beauty, mimicking the sound and talking ability. They have a long lifespan of about 40 to 60 years and the traveling distance capacity of 10 kilometers a day. There are many different types of these birds, but here, we will discuss only a few of them.

Grey African parrot

Grey African parrot
Grey African parrot is intelligent

They are considered one of the most attractive, beautiful, and smartest parrots in the world. These are large-sized birds and have a bright red-colored tail and silvery feathers. As these birds are very social, they can be caught very quickly. One of the famous types of these Grey African parrot birds is the Congo African Grey parrot.

  • African Grey parrot

These smart and intelligent parrot species usually live in the areas of Uganda, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Angola. Furthermore, slight white edges are present on the bodies and heads of these birds. They have black or dark grey-colored eyes. The baby birds have a weight of 12 to 14 grams, whereas the adult ones have a weight of about 0.922 to 1.160 pounds. They are also considered one of the most famous avian pets due to their mimicking human speech ability. 

  • African Grey parrot baby

The babies of these birds are also adorable and extremely shy. These birds sometimes get nervous when there is no proper diet and environment availability, hence bite humans. They usually start talking between the ages of 12 to 18 months. The grey parrot price comes in the range of almost 1000 to 1500 dollars. 

Grey parrot

Grey Parrot
Grey Parrot have a beautiful, thin, and pale-edged feathers of grey color

These African Grey parrot birds are mostly found in the open Savanna areas and are the most intelligent of the other parrot species. They have beautiful, thin, and pale-edged feathers of grey color. They weigh only 407 grams and have an average wingspan of 46 to 52 cm. Furthermore, higher demand for interaction is required by these birds because of their social behavior. The baby birds are also of great attraction.

  • Grey parrot lifespan

These birds have an average lifespan of about 40 to 60 years, but it can be extended. Many of the parrot breeders bred these birds and use them for trade purposes. Providing these birds with a good-quality diet and a pleasant environment can improve their health conditions and life span as well. Talking about the wild African Grey parrots, they can live for almost 80 to 90 years. 

  • Grey parrot talking

The birds of these types are very famous due to their advanced cognitive skills. They can talk and produce mimic sounds as well. They usually start speaking at a very younger age. Furthermore, they can even learn hundreds of new words; thus are known as vocal learners. Although the african grey parrot price is very high, people still buy them to amuse themselves.

  • Grey parrot with red tail

These birds are the larger of the other subspecies, i.e. Timneh, Angola, Cameroon, and Togo. They have an average mass of 410 grams. These african grey parrot facts include that they contain scarlet-colored feathers, and can live a long life of about forty to sixty years. Furthermore, these are monomorphic birds and feel happiness by living in flocks.

Congo grey parrot

Congo grey parrot
Congo grey parrot have a dark-colored body

These birds are also known as African Grey parrots and have a dark-colored body. They are mostly found in the regions of Central Africa and are known to have an intelligent and loving nature. These birds also show a response towards shape and color. It has been found that the subconscious level of these birds is just as same as that of a five years old child. Furthermore, they have larger sizes than the timneh grey parrots.

  • Congo African Grey parrot

These birds are mostly found in Equatorial regions. They are large-sized birds with the weights of 0.9 to 1.25 pounds. These birds are being used as pets and for trade purposes due to their attractive colors and talking ability. They also express themselves through their feathers’ position and body language. In addition to this, the amazon grey parrot toys are also available.

Timneh African Grey parrot

Timneh African Grey parrot
Timneh African Grey parrot is smaller in size

These smart and intelligent birds belong to the family of Psittacus. They usually weigh between 275 to 375 grams only and are very fun-loving and beautiful birds. They have bodies of darker colors and are smaller in size than the Congo ones. People mostly keep them as companion birds. This african grey parrot for sale is also available in many of the pet shops.

  • Timneh African Grey

The Timneh African Grey parrots are of medium size. They possess highly-developed skills of talking and are very affectionate and attractive birds. Also, the dark maroon-colored tails are present in these birds. They have mottled grey-colored feathers. They weigh 0.8 pounds only and have a length of about 33 cm. In addition to this, they are less nervous than the other types and are mostly found in the deep forests. 

African Grey parrot cage

African Grey parrot cage
African Grey parrot require greater space

As these birds are very social and stimulated, they require greater space not to get bored. For this purpose, the larger cages are needed with a maximum width of about 32 cm. Furthermore, a larger tray at the bottom and playable toys will provide them a suitable environment. As the grey parrot is a timid bird, its cage must be placed at a higher level.

Average lifespan of African Grey parrot

Average lifespan of African Grey parrot
African Grey parrot lifespan is between 40 to 60 years

The average lifespan of these parrots is between 40 to 60 years, but it varies. Talking about the wild African Grey parrots, they have an expected lifespan of about 80 years, but the older ones come with a life expectancy of 90 years. However, their lifespan can be increased by providing them with proper care and a pleasant environment. It has been found that some of these birds usually die at the early ages of 30 to 40 years due to improper care.

African Grey parrot breeders

African Grey parrot breeders
African Grey parrot cost of these birds can be increased by improving their quality

Many of the breeders are present throughout the whole world that bred these types of parrots. They use these bred-birds for trade purposes and earn a lot of money. However, the cost of these birds can be increased by improving their quality. As the african grey parrot lifespan is about 40 to 60 years, it can be increased by giving them a proper diet. 

African Grey parrot behavior

African Grey parrot behavior
African Grey parrots are very fun-loving birds

The African Grey parrots are very fun-loving birds, and one can make good companions. Although these parrots can be petted and like social interaction, they sometimes do not tolerate the intense physical or human interaction and get frustrated. Usually, when they become nervous or fearful, they start biting, flying away from that dreadful thing, and damaging themselves by falling from height again and again.

African Grey parrot food

African Grey parrot food
They eat a variety of fruits, including cabbage

They eat a variety of fruits, including cabbage, apples, carrots, oranges, seedless grapes, mustard greens, and all other calcium-rich vegetables and seeds. Giving them proper food can improve their quality. In addition to this, the african grey parrot eggs for sale are also available. These eggs after an incubation period of 28 to 30 days hatch, hence new baby parrots are born.

  • African Grey parrot diet

Like all other birds, the African Grey parrots also require a proper diet and environment to get grown. These smart birds eat a variety of food, including berries, seedless grapes, cabbage, mustard greens, oranges, and carrots. But they must eat a balanced amount of food i.e., pelleted food. This food contains about 60 to 80 percent of their daily intake, while the rest of it includes calcium-rich vegetables and seeds. 

  • Best parrot food for African Grey

Like all other birds, the proper and balanced amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, minerals, and essential vitamins is required by these parrot species. If they are not given a proper diet, they will have many health problems. So, the specialized African pellet food making almost 75 to 85% of the birds’ diet, is the best food to be chosen for these birds. Vegetables and fresh fruits can also be used for food purposes.

African Grey parrot cost

African Grey parrot cost
African Grey parrot cost up to a maximum of 1500 dollars

They cost up to a maximum of 1500 dollars as compared to other parrots due to their intelligence and other skills. Those birds, which people raise themselves, are more expensive than the purchased ones. Talking about the wildlife breeders, they sell these birds at higher costs. One can also buy African grey parrot from different pet stores.

African Grey parrot intelligence

African Grey parrot intelligence
African Grey parrot can learn hundreds of new words

The African Grey parrots are considered as one of the most intelligent birds’ species. They are also called vocal learners due to their talking ability. These birds can even learn hundreds of new words and have the same cognitive skills as that of a five-year-old child. The males and females in case of these birds are quite similar; either both of these sexes can talk or both of them might not talk. Furthermore, these birds become sexually mature at the age of 4 to 6 years and then give birth to the new ones.

African Grey parrot information

African Grey parrot information
Grey Parrots are of two types

The African Grey parrots mostly live in Western Kenya and Central Africa. They are of two types; the largest ones are the Congo African Grey parrots, and the smallest ones are the Timneh African Grey parrots. They come in the category of the smartest birds present around the whole world. Furthermore, these birds are emotionally strong and develop good relations with their owners, hence require greater attention.

  • African Grey parrot pet

They are very affectionate, beautiful, and fun-loving birds. These birds are very talkative and produce mimic sounds. Due to their advanced cognitive skills and social behavior, they can be made good pets. The african grey parrot for sale is also available in the pet stores, but some of the people also adopt these birds from the rescue centers.

  • Baby African Grey parrot

The female African grey parrots lay eggs every two days and give birth to a baby bird after 28 to 30 days of incubation. These cute baby birds are also very beautiful and require proper care and attention, along with a suitable environment. They must be supplied with freshwater and food every day. In addition to this, they must be kept away from toxic eating materials such as onions. These birds start talking at the age of almost 17 months.

  • African Grey parrot size

These birds, which are among the category of the most intelligent animals, have a medium-sized body. The length of these birds is about 33 cm. In addition to this, they weigh about 0.88 pounds. But the question here is, “how much is an African grey parrot?” So, they are very expensive birds and usually cost about $1000 to $1500.

Wild African Grey parrot

Wild African Grey parrot
Wild African Grey parrot have dark-colored wings

These wild African Grey parrots are considered the largest parrots of Africa. The length of these birds is about 13 inches. They have dark-colored wings and grey colored feathers. Furthermore, these birds can have only one mate at a time and are known as monogamous parrots. They fly freely in the wild environment; thus, they are caught very easily and used for illegal trade purposes.

African Grey parrot care

African Grey parrot care
African Grey parrot require proper care for their survival

They require proper care for their survival. There must be enough living space for these birds. They must be fed every day with the minerals, freshwater, and the vitamin-A and calcium-rich fruits and vegetables.  In addition to this, they also require plenty of playable toys i.e., puzzle toys for challenging their intelligence. Their cage must be placed in a quiet place so that they don’t feel stressed.

African Grey parrot rescue

African Grey parrot rescue
African Grey parrots proper veterinary care to them

Cameroon is the only place where the rehabilitation center i.e. LWC and rescue specialists for the grey African parrot, are present. Many of the African Grey that were used for illegal wildlife trade purposes have been rescued by this center. The specialists of this rehabilitation center provide a calcium-rich diet, and proper veterinary care to them, thus releasing them back into the safe wild environment.

FAQ’s

Sometimes the people get confused and raise some questions about these birds to make their minds clear. So, the answers to some of those raised questions are as given below:

1. Are Grey parrots good pets?

These are very smart, intelligent, and affectionate birds and can produce mimic sounds. They are also called vocal learners and can be used as pets. But, they sometimes can become aggressive, start biting and damage themselves.

2. What is a Grey parrot called?

They are commonly called the African Grey parrots and are usually found near the areas of Central Africa and Western Kenya. They are very famous due to their talking ability.

3. How much is an African Grey parrot?

As these birds are adorable and attractive, can produce mimic sounds, and have much advanced cognitive skills, they cost very high. Their price comes in the range of $1000 to $1500, but can be increased depending upon the quality of them.

4. Do Grey parrots talk?

Yes, these smart birds can talk and produce mimic sounds as well. They usually start talking at the age of 12 to 18 months and are known as the best talkers.  But some of them only create noise and mimic sounds.

5. What are the two types of African Greys?

The two types of these birds include the Congo African Grey, which is larger in size and the Timneh African Grey, which is smaller in size.

6. How many types of African Grey parrots are there?

There are two types of these beautiful birds; one of them is a Congo African Grey parrot with a bright red-colored tail, and the other one is the Timneh African Grey parrot with a dark grey- colored body and a maroon-colored tail.

7. Can I put two African Grey together?

Yes, the two of these birds can be put together, but only a pair of them will be fine to be kept together. While keeping the other pair with the first one will cause fighting between them.

8. How smart are Grey parrots?

These birds are very smart, intelligent, and attractive. They have very impressive cognitive skills as same as that of a five years old child.

9. Do African Grey parrots bite?

Although these birds are fun-loving birds, they can be sometimes dangerous also. For example, when these birds become aggressive and fearful, they start biting and damaging themselves by falling again.

10. Why does my African Grey parrot bite me?

Sometimes, these birds start biting because of the uncomfortable environment. It might also be possible that you have done something that your parrot does not like. Furthermore, the distrust of humans and fear can also be the possible reasons.

11. Do African Grey parrots like to be petted?

Yes, these birds are very social and do like to be petted, but to some extent. Although they do like social interaction, the intense physical contact is not tolerated by them. 

12. Should I cover my African Grey at night?

These intelligent birds do like a quiet and slightly darker place to sleep; that’s why it is unnecessary to cover them at night. However, you must lock them securely in the cage to become ensured about their safety.

13. How long do African Grey sleep for?

Many of these birds like to sleep for 10 to 12 hours, but some of them do like to sleep for more than twelve hours. There are also those species that sleep only for less than 8 hours.

14. How do I know if my African Grey is happy?

If your African Grey parrot stands on one foot, sings, whistles, stretches his head, prinks his feathers, and bows his head, it means he is happy.

15. Can African Grey eat bananas?

Yes, these smart parrots like to eat bananas, but they can also eat apples, carrots, apricots, and other calcium-rich vegetables.

16. What should African Grey not eat?

These birds should not eat those products that are toxic to them. For example, onions, avocado, mushrooms, apple seeds, salt, tomato leaves, and chocolate are harmful to them.

17. Where to buy African Grey parrot babies?

Many of these birds’ babies can be adopted from the rescue organizations and can be raised well. Furthermore, they can also be bought from the bird breeders or the pets’ shops.

18. Do parrots know what they are saying?

There are some parrots that don’t know about what they are saying. But some of them are also present that are professionally trained and know about what they are saying. The African Grey parrot named Alex was one of them.

19. Do African Grey parrots remember their owners?

Researches have shown that these smart birds have very strong emotions and memory. This quality makes them superior to other animal species. So, yes, they do remember their owners if they have been kept happy.

20. How do you tell if an African Grey is male or female?

You can find the sex of these birds by looking at the feathers below their tails. Your bird is male if the feathers are red and; is female if the feathers are grey. By examining their head and neck, sexuality can also be determined.

Conclusion

As we have discussed many of the facts about the African Grey parrots and their types, they must be supplied with proper nutrition and a pleasant environment to live. Although these birds are smart, fun-loving, affectionate, love social interactions, and have many cognitive and intellectual skills, they require proper care for their survival.

For example, we must not become so harsh to them that they become fearful and aggressive. We must also support the rescue specialists and centers so that people cannot use these Timneh Congo African Grey Parrot birds for their illegal wildlife trade purposes. 

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