African Greys / Grey Parrots
AFRICAN GREYS (Psittacus Erithacus):
Probably the most familiar of all Parrots, and undeniably the most talented talker of the entire family, the Grey Parrot has an unmistakable apperance. In terms of character, however, Greys can prove to be rather shy- particulary when kept as pets- lacking the brash confidence of Amazon parrots. Nevertheless, they will become very attached to people they know well. The natural sounds made by these parrots are not especially loud or disturbing- being comprised mainly of series of whistles- although they have a harsher call warning of danger.
Color Forms:
The Grey Parrot exists in two distinctive forms. The slightly smaller Timneh subspecies (P.e. timneh) comes from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Guinea. It is also a significantly darker gray color, with maroon rather than bright red feathering on the tail and a horn-colored area on the upper bill- an area which is black in the case of the Grey Parrot itself. Cocks have darker plumage than hens from the same area.
Care and Conditions:
Grey Parrots need careful acclimatization before being placing in a sheltered outdoor aviary throughout the year. They are highly social birds, and for breeding the ideal is to start with several birds of opposite sex, and allow them to pair up themselves to ensure compatibility. Although the tendency in recent years has been to house breed pairs indoors to maximize their breeding potential (they will nest through much of the year), it is quite possible to breed them satisfactorily in an outdoor aviary on a colony system.
