African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) are native to the forested regions of central and western Africa, including the island of Príncipe located in the Gulf of Guinea. In West Africa, they are found in coastal countries such as Sierra Leone, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast.

There are two recognized subspecies with distinct ranges. Psittacus erithacus erithicus spans from Kenya to the eastern border of the Ivory Coast, including insular populations.

Habitat

Dear Lykkers! African grey parrots are commonly found in humid lowland forests but can also thrive at elevations reaching up to 2,200 meters in the eastern regions of their habitat. African grey parrots are often found in diverse habitats, including the edges of forests, open clearings, gallery forests, mangroves, wooded savannahs, agricultural lands, and even gardens. Often, they visit open land near woodlands, roosting in trees over water or on islands in rivers. These parrots nest in tree holes, sometimes utilizing cavities abandoned by other birds, such as woodpeckers. In West Africa, they make seasonal movements during the dry season, leaving the driest areas.

Habitat Regions: Tropical, terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: Savanna or grassland, forest, scrub forest

Other Habitat Features: Suburban, agricultural, riparian

African grey parrot 4K

Video by Eswaranisai

Physical Description

The plumage of Psittacus erithacus is various shades of grey, with distinctive red tail feathers. These parrots are approximately 33 cm long and weigh up to 407 grams. The wingspan of African grey parrots typically ranges from 46 to 52 centimeters. The subspecies Psittacus e. erithacus is characterized by its light grey plumage, red tail feathers, and black beak. Notable characteristics of African grey parrots include their pale yellow eyes, the uncovered white skin around their facial area, and grey feathers outlined with white at the edges.

Psittacus e. timneh: Smaller, darker, with a maroon-brown wash on the red tail. They have a black-tipped dark pinkish maxilla and silver irises.

Other Physical Features: Endothermic, homoiothermic, bilateral symmetry

Average Mass: 407 g (14.34 oz)

Average Length: 33 cm (12.99 in)

Range Wingspan: 18 to 20 cm (7.09 to 7.87 in)

Reproduction

African grey parrots are social breeders, forming loose colonies where each pair occupies its own tree. They form lifelong monogamous bonds at maturity (3-5 years). Courtship involves display flights, mate feeding, and soft vocalizations. Females sleep in the nest cavity while males guard it. Breeding occurs once or twice annually, coinciding with the dry season. Females lay 3-5 eggs, incubated solely by the female while the male provides food. Incubation lasts about 30 days, and fledglings leave the nest at 12 weeks, cared for by both parents until independence. ("African Grey Parrots", 2006; Athan, 1999; Pepperberg, 2001)

Mating System: Monogamous

Parental Investment: Altricial offspring

Pre-fertilization: Female provisioning and protection

Pre-hatching: Female incubation

Post-hatching: Male and female provisioning and protection

Extended juvenile learning period

Lifespan/Longevity

In captivity, African grey parrots live an average of 45 years and up to 60 years. In the wild, their average lifespan is 22.7 years. ("African Grey Parrots", 2006; Ryan, 2002)

Behavior

Wild African grey parrots are shy and social, roosting in large flocks but nesting as family groups. They vocalize actively at dawn and dusk, often breaking into smaller groups during the day to forage. Young parrots remain in family groups for extended periods, learning essential survival skills and social behaviors. They demonstrate complex cognition, including problem-solving, imitation, and social learning, rivaling the intelligence of marine mammals and apes. Studies, including those on the famous parrot Alex, showcase their ability to use labels, categorize, and communicate. ("African Grey Parrots", 2006; Pepperberg, 2007)

Key Behaviors: African grey parrots exhibit a variety of behaviors, including living in trees (arboreal), climbing, being active during the day (diurnal) and twilight hours (crepuscular), moving independently (motile), and migrating or defending their territories when necessary.

Communication and Perception

African grey parrots use a variety of vocalizations, including contact, alarm, and food-begging calls. Their vocalizations promote flock cohesion and warn of predators. They can recognize musical note frequencies, isolate sounds, and replicate them. Alex, a famous African grey, demonstrated advanced communication abilities, including categorization and contextual speech. (Bottoni et al., 2003; Pepperberg, 2007)