African Grey Parrot

People usually start searching for African grey parrots when they’re weighing up a lifelong pet, trying to make sense of “talking parrot” claims, or checking whether common care tips (diet, wing clipping, lifespan) are actually safe.

These birds can live for decades, and the wrong setup can quietly unravel into stress behaviours, injury, or preventable illness. Below is a clear, practical look at what an African grey is, where it comes from, what it needs in captivity, and what to watch for—grounded in reputable welfare and veterinary guidance.

Quick facts: African grey parrot

• Scientific name: Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus)
• Typical size: around 33–40 cm long; often roughly 400–650 g (varies with sex, age, and condition)
• Plumage: grey body, pale face mask, black beak, bright red tail
• Noise: strong natural calls; many individuals learn to mimic household sounds and human speech
• Wild range: West and Central Africa, mainly forested habitats
• Conservation: listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with major pressure from trapping and habitat loss¹
• Trade controls: listed on CITES Appendix I (commercial international trade in wild birds is highly restricted)^{2, 3}

Physical description

The African grey is a compact, broad-winged parrot with soft, scalloped grey feathering and a sharply contrasting red tail. Up close, the face looks “masked” because the pale facial skin and fine feathering sit against a dark beak.

It’s a bird built for climbing as much as flying: the beak is a third hand, and the feet are made for gripping branches and manipulating food. In a home, that same build translates into a powerful bite, a love of shredding, and a need for safe things to chew.

Habitat and distribution (wild)

In the wild, African greys are closely tied to forested landscapes across West and Central Africa. They’re often associated with dense forest but may also use forest edges, clearings, and other wooded habitats where feeding trees and nesting hollows are available.¹

Not native to Australia

African grey parrots do not occur naturally in the Northern Territory, Queensland, or Western Australia. In Australia, they are kept as companion birds and in aviaries, and any free-flying birds would be escapees rather than a native population.

Diet and feeding (pet care)

In the wild, greys feed on a shifting mix of plant foods, foraging as seasons change. In captivity, the most reliable approach is a balanced base diet with variety layered over the top—because a single-seed diet is easy to offer and easy to get wrong.

A common, vet-supported pattern is:

• Quality pellets as a foundation
• Daily vegetables (aim for more veg than fruit)
• Fruit in smaller amounts due to sugar content
• Nuts/seeds mainly as training rewards or enrichment, not the whole menu^{4, 5}

Fresh, clean water should always be available, and food bowls should be cleaned properly to reduce spoilage and mould.

Foods to avoid

Some foods are well known for causing serious harm in parrots. For example, avocado is widely treated as toxic for birds, and chocolate is also a recognised risk.⁴ If you’re unsure about a specific food, check with an avian veterinarian before offering it.

Social behaviour and communication

African greys are intensely observant. They learn patterns—voices, door sounds, routines—and many will reproduce those sounds with startling accuracy. Mimicry is not the same thing as understanding, but it does reflect how closely they track their environment.

They are also social birds. In a home, that can look like strong attachment to one person, discomfort with change, and a tendency to develop unwanted behaviours when daily interaction and enrichment run thin.

Lifespan and breeding

African greys are a long-term commitment. In well-managed captivity, they are often reported to live for decades, and many owners plan for a bird that may outlive them.

Breeding biology varies by individual and environment, and it’s easy for casual “how long to hatch” numbers online to drift. If you’re keeping a pair or considering breeding, speak with an avian vet or an experienced, welfare-focused aviculturist—particularly because of disease risks and the need for appropriate permits and record-keeping.

Enrichment and training

For an African grey, enrichment isn’t optional decoration. It’s the daily work of keeping a clever animal busy enough that it doesn’t start dismantling itself or its surroundings.

What good enrichment looks like

• Foraging: food hidden in paper, safe foliage, or purpose-made foraging toys
• Chewing: destructible, bird-safe materials (untreated wood, cardboard, natural fibre)
• Movement: climbing routes, varied perch sizes and textures
• Training: short, reward-based sessions (step up, stationing, recall indoors where safe)

Wing clipping: proceed with caution

The original draft treated wing clipping as routine. It isn’t that simple. Australian welfare guidance notes that poor wing trims can cause injury and contribute to behavioural problems, and clipping should be approached carefully and preferably performed (or directly supervised) by a veterinarian experienced with birds.^{6, 7}

If you’re considering clipping for “safety”, it’s worth first looking at alternatives: bird-proofing rooms, controlled flight time, and training reliable step-ups and recall indoors.

Health concerns and common diseases

African greys can be hardy, but they don’t cope well with chronic stress, poor diet, or stale indoor air. Problems often build slowly, then show up as feather damage, weight changes, breathing signs, or a sudden shift in droppings.

Feather damaging behaviour (including feather plucking)

Feather plucking is a sign, not a diagnosis. It can be linked to boredom, lack of sleep, anxiety, skin irritation, nutritional imbalance, or underlying disease. Because it has many causes, the safest path is a veterinary check early—before the behaviour becomes entrenched.

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD)

PBFD is caused by a circovirus and is recognised across many parrot species. It can cause abnormal feathers, immune suppression, and severe illness, particularly in young birds. It spreads through feather dust/dander and other secretions, and testing and quarantine are central to control in multi-bird homes and breeding settings.⁸

Respiratory disease

“Respiratory infection” is a broad label. In parrots it can involve bacteria, fungi, viruses, irritants (like smoke, aerosols, overheated non-stick cookware fumes), or poor ventilation. Any signs of tail-bobbing, open-mouth breathing, wheezing, or persistent nasal discharge should be treated as urgent.

Conservation and ethical buying

African greys have faced heavy pressure from trapping for the pet trade and ongoing habitat loss, contributing to their Endangered status.¹ International trade is tightly controlled under CITES, and the species is listed on Appendix I.^{2, 3}

If you’re choosing an African grey:

• Prefer captive-bred birds from transparent, welfare-focused breeders or reputable rescues.
• Ask for health records and discuss disease testing with an avian vet, especially if you already have birds at home.
• Be wary of vague origin stories, missing paperwork, or pressure to buy quickly.

Final thoughts

An African grey is not a decorative cage bird. It’s a long-lived, watchful forest parrot, adapted for daily movement, steady social contact, and constant problem-solving.

When those needs are met—good food, safe flight or movement, calm routines, and real enrichment—the bird tends to settle into a quieter confidence. When they aren’t, the warning signs are usually there, written in feathers, appetite, and the tone of the calls.

References

1. World Land Trust — Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus): range, threats, and IUCN status (Endangered, 2018 assessment)
2. IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin — CITES CoP17 daily report (2 Oct 2016): proposal to transfer African grey parrot to Appendix I
3. CITES — Summary list (shows Psittacus erithacus listed under Appendix I)
4. Bird Vet Melbourne — Feeding your small parrot (vegetables daily; fruit in smaller amounts; lists toxic foods)
5. Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ) — Bird care: diet guidance and toxic foods to avoid
6. RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase — How should I groom my bird? (wing trimming guidance and risks)
7. Agriculture Victoria — Code of Practice for the Housing of Caged Birds (free flight; wing clipping only on veterinary advice/for health)
8. Merck Veterinary Manual (Professional Version) — Viral diseases of pet birds (includes PBFD: cause, transmission, diagnosis, control)