If you’ve ever seen an African Gray parrot, know that they are beautiful birds, but did you also know that they are able to collect vocabularies of 1000 words or more, and use the words they learn to speak the context? To say that these birds are intelligent would be an understatement, and best of all, that’s not the only thing that makes the African Gray Parrot so special. Read on to find out some of the most interesting and exciting facts about African Gray Parrots, including their origin, information on the different African Gray subspecies, and more. Learning more about these incredible birds can inspire you to get more involved with the species, whether through adoption, research, or conservation.

There is more than one type

While all types of African Gray Parrots look the same, there are actually two distinct types and a few lesser-known subspecies of this beloved bird. The most popular and common is Congo African Gray. The Congo African Gray is the largest of the African Gray parrots. Its plumage is light gray and its beak is black. The second most common type is the Timneh African Gray, which was recognized as a species in 2012. The Timneh African Gray is slightly smaller than the Congo and its feathers are darker in color. Another defining characteristic of Timneh Gray is that it has a horn-colored upper mandible instead of a black mandible. Despite their differences, these two types of African Gray Parrots make excellent pets and are equally intelligent. upper mandible instead of a black one. Despite their differences, these two types of African Gray Parrots make excellent pets and are equally intelligent.

They are among the most intelligent bird species

As well as being one of the most popular pet bird species, African Gray Parrots are also the smartest. Scientists all over the world have done a lot of research on the mental capacity of African gray parrots. The most famous example is the work that Dr. Irene Pepperberg did with her famous African Gray, Alex. Using Alex and other African Grays in communication research trials, she was able to show that African Gray Parrots can learn an incredible amount of human words, they can also use them in context to communicate with their own. owners. These impressive birds have been said to have the mental and emotional abilities of a 5-year-old human child.

Caring for an African gray can be hard work

Because they are so intelligent, African Gray Parrots form very close bonds with their owners and can be very emotionally needed. Because of this trait, they do best with owners who can spend a lot of time handling and socializing with them on a daily basis. In addition, African gray parrots need a lot of exercises to keep their muscles strong and maintain adequate physical condition. This means that they must be able to spend several hours a day outside their cages, playing in supervised “parrot-proof” areas.

They can live a very long time

It is known that African gray parrots live in captivity for up to 80 years. It is therefore imperative that those who adopt them can live their entire lives with a bird. African Gray Parrots are too emotionally sensitive to endure the transfer from owner to owner, but unfortunately, many of them have multiple homes in their lifetimes as people rush to adopt them without there. think hard. You can help end such situations by raising awareness of African Gray ownership and making sure to set a good example for bird owners who may be interested in adopting such a parrot.

They are hard to keep busy

Most people can understand the difficulty of keeping a young child busy. So it’s no exaggeration to say that keeping a very intelligent bird from being bored can look the same. African Gray Parrots need a lot of mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. They should therefore have a variety of toys and other ways to exercise their minds. Otherwise, they may resort to destructive behavior and develop unpleasant habits that may require professional intervention.

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