African Grey Parrot

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African Grey Parrot

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Genus:	*Psittacus*
Species:	*erithacus*

Binomial name

Psittacus erithacus

The African Grey Parrot is a large parrot of the genus Psittacus, native to Africa. As the name implies, the African Grey Parrot is predominantly grey, with accents of white and a red or maroon tail depending on the subspecies. Greys, like all parrots, are zygodactyl, having 4 toes on each foot - two front and two back. They feed primarily on nuts and fruits, supplemented by leafy matter.

While comparative judgements of animal intelligence are always very difficult to make objectively, Psittaciformes are generally regarded as being amongst the most intelligent of birds. African Grey Parrots are particularly noted for their cognitive abilities, which are believed to have evolved as a consequence of their history of cooperative feeding on the ground in central Africa.

Irene Pepperberg's research with captive African Greys including Alex have shown that these parrots are capable of using human words with their human meanings, at least to some extent. Ambitious claims of language use have also been made for another African Grey, called N'kisi; in the eyes of most experts in animal cognition, however, these claims are cast into some doubt by the fact that this bird has also been claimed to exhibit powers of telepathy.

Their intelligence also creates a need for intellectually stimulating toys when African Greys are kept as companion animals.

There are two subspecies:

Congo African Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus erithacus
Timneh African Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus timneh

Congo Afrian Greys (CAGs) are larger birds with light grey feathers, deep red tails and black beaks. The other subspecies, Timneh African Greys (TAGs), are smaller in size, have a darker charcoal grey coloring, a darker maroon tail, and a lighter horn colored beak. The history of African Greys kept as pets dates back over 4,000 years. Egyptian hieroglyphics clearly depicts pet. The ancient Greeks also valued parrots as pets, and this custom was later adopted by the Romans. Wealthy Roman families often kept parrots in ornate cages, and parrots were prized for their ability to talk. King Henry VIII of England also had an African Grey parrot. Today, both wild caught and captive bred African Greys are kept as pets.

References

Julie Rach; (1998) The African Grey : An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet Howell Book House. ISBN 0876054432
W.T. Greene; African Grey Parrots Beech Publishing House. ISBN 1857360273
E. J. Mulawka; (1984) African Grey Parrots TFH Publications. ISBN 0866229752