African Grey Parrots
genus PSITTACUS erithacus erithacus
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Description: African Grey Parrot, Red African Grey Parrot,also known Congo African Grey.
The African Grey Parrot has been a cherished pet in
Europe since the reign of Henry VIII during the sixteenth
century, and possibly even earlier than this time.
This
genus has 3 subspecies ,one now thought to be extinct.
The other two african grey parrots are well known and
readily available in the USA.
The small sub species P.
e. timneh known as the Timneh African Grey Parrot is smaller
and darker in appearance than the nominate form and has a
horn colored top mandible and maroon colored tail. The
origins of the Timneh Grey is concentrated in the western
coastal regions of Guinea, Ghana and the Ivory Coast of
Africa. The nominate form P. e. erithacus is better known by
several so called market names such as Red Tail Grey, Congo
African Grey, Cameroon African grey and Ghana or West
African Grey.These labels have created a very confused
public for many many years. .
These names are were
normally used by many trappers,exporters and importers to
identify the African geographical origin of a particular
bird's ancestry, such as CONGO AFRICAN GREY: from the
Central African Congo Republic and other central regions of
Africa. CAMEROON AFRICAN GREY: from the Cameroon region of
Africa also central Africa. WEST AFRICAN GREY or GHANA GREY:
from GHANA or the more western regions of Africa such as the
Ivory Coast and Guinea.
Some less informed breeders and
many bird dealers try to attach these names to their birds
describing certain size or color variations, such as, one
breeder told me that he has a pair of Cameroon African Greys
he would like to sell to me. I asked him how did he know
these birds origin? How did he know they came from CAMEROON
Africa, He replied with " Oh, I don't know where they came
from, but they are large and silver " therefore they are
Cameroon African Greys or so he was told by a dealer that
sold them to him. Some dealers knew that by attaching these
names they could demand higher prices from the unknowing
public. In the mid eighties during the heyday of U.S. bird
importation, I had several business deals and conversations
with several large well known U.S. African Grey importers.
These importers said there was no way of anyone ever
actually knowing what african region a shipment of African
Greys actually were trapped. In fact most shipments
contained many birds from several regions. Native AFRICAN
trappers could travel large distances and from different
regions to sell their birds to exporters and buyers and most
of the time would have birds from severaldifferent regions.
In a single shipment of 500 or more greys there would be
many color variations and sizes. It was common practice for
importers to separate the color variations and sizes into
groups, and attach names such as Cameroon, Congos, and
Ghana's without ever knowing if these birds were actually
trapped in these regions. But by attaching these so called
names they got more money from even so called experts.
There is a variance in size and color of African Greys
throughout Africa, starting from West to East is the darker
and smaller to the light silver and larger birds being found
more to the East and central regions.
But these are not
different species but only geo variations and differences
due to environmental circumstances and evolution of that
group of birds in that location. Some experts believe that
diet and evolution can have the most effect on size and
color. One theory is, since larger high mineral deposits and
unlimited abundant food sources are likely to occur in the
more central dense forest regions, over many many years
these birds would have evolved slightly larger and have less
melanin in the feathers creating a lighter silver look.
Joseph Forshaw the reknown author of Parrots of The World
book, he states that quartz and many other high minerals and
very high nutient rich particles was found in the intestinal
tract of birds trapped in Central African regions. Howver
the Birds found in the western regions contained very little
or none of these high nutrient type particles and noted food
sources are more scarce in that region. These western birds
would be of course smaller and darker than the birds in the
east. Are they a different species?, absolutely not. Should
any of these geographically separated birds be labeled
Ghana, Western, Cameroon,congo or whatever? No.
These
same birds colors may change or morph to some degree when
the diet is corrected and more abundant. As we have
researched and proved on our farm sometime ago.
When we
starting collecting breeding stock in late 70's early 80's,
many years ago we noticed some birds that first appeared
darker and these birds were labeled as west african greys
(Ghanas). These birds over time, several years, become more
silver in color once the diet was corrected, therefore the
above theory may have some merit. and babies produced from
them were more silver and larger than the original dark
parents.
As we set up some of these slightly smaller
darker colored birds for breeding and started producing
babies, we noticed that our babies from these pairs were
much larger and very silver compared to the parents. Some of
our other adult pairs of African greys that were very large
and silver now they also produced large and some smaller
babies, also produced darker and some silver. We feel that
diet has more to do with color and size than anything else.
Also its just plain genetics as in humans some are larger in
the same family and different sizes and shapes in the same
group of siblings, its just nature, all are not the same
size or color, what a boring world this would be if
everything was the same and predictable.
Since all of the
babies now produced in the U.S. are offspring of
these original imports or from first generation, second
generation or even third generation breeders, there is
absolutely NO way for anyone to label a bird with the
correct origin based name such as Cameroon, Congo etc. So do
not be fooled by this practice by dealers and breeders that
state they have something special such as large silver
Cameroon, Congo, etc. these people really do not know what
they are talking about. We breed the one nominate species of
Grey Parrot. The nominate species, we call the Red Tail Grey
for obvious reasons.
In this species there are many
different sizes and color variations, but do we know for
sure that a certain bird ancestry originated from a certain
region in Africa? No. Does anyone else know?, absolutely
not.
What difference does it really make? Red Tail
African Grey is Red Tail African Grey. smaller,
larger,silver or not so silver.keeping mind that actually
most silver birds are most likely females and they would be
normally smaller in most cases.
African Greys are one of
the most talked about species of parrots. They are well
known for talking ability and their intelligence. Since 1982
we have bred and reared 100's of greys with all being almost
the same in one aspect of personality, that is they are
timid and somewhat shy around strangers as a general rule.
Greys growl as a way of defense. One should move slowly
around greys. many handfed baby and young greys will pinch
and distrust fingers when offered to them.
African Greys
do not take well to change once they have adapted to an
environment, changes should be done over time as not to
stress them out in a household. Many will scream, growl and
flutter around strangers or new toys. You just have to take
it easy until they get use to you. They are African greys
and NOT like other species, they are unique in their
behavior. If you ever heard the expression about dog or cat
owners, people will say well they are not a cat person or he
or she is not a dog person, well its very much the same
here. I, Mike Richard,RBC Director, I am not a grey person,
I love all amazon species and the Yellow Naped Amazons are
one of my favorites. everyone has their unique species for
their unique personality.
If you want to own african grey
parrotss you must be able to adapt to their behavior, as
they may not adapt to yours. UNIQUE.
There are exceptions
to this I do understand as we have seen some that were not
the normal acting grey in nature.. The normal being timid
and shy around strangers. But with all said and done African
Greys are one of the highly regarded talking species of all
parrots. Almost all become a prized addition to anyones
family. Most all our handfed babies are very sweet and get
very attached to their owners. I think one thing that amazes
most people about greys is they can mimic and sound just
like a certain voice. I have heard some sound like women and
men, some can sound like an old mans voice and so much more.
BUT, please do not think that is all there is to an african
grey is just the talking, infact do not purchase any bird
just for talking ability, its just not fair when people
purchase a bird(any bird) and then may be disappointed in
the bird as it may not live up to their wants or
expectations and then they just give up and get rid of it
and then try something else, its just not fair to these
creatures, they should be life long companions, accept the
good with the bad, as with humans, these birds are not throw
away pets.
African Greys are one of the best mimics
around. Most greys take some time to develop their talents,
some taking a couple years to really get going with their
talking. Many new African Grey owners are disappointed when
they get a grey and then it just does not talk right away.
They must have time. GO slow around greys as they are not
like other species of parrots. Many Greys are shy around
strangers and refuse to talk around strangers, but when the
strangers leave, they start up. One thing that most people
must understand is that the reputation of the greys talking
ability has been grossly exaggerated in many instances over
the years. Some just do not live up to their reputation.
everyone is different as with people,
But I will give the
credit where credit is due,
Most African Greys do make
one of the finest talkers ever with the proper training and
given time.
They make a sweet bird for the beginner or
long term bird owners, once the person accepts and
understand the common personality and characteristics of
this species and what to expect.
I must say this, do not
be disappointed if your Grey does not perform like those
birds you see on TV or read about on the internet, as many
of those birds just may not exist, or those birds are highly
trained and most household pets just do not get that kind of
training. Love your bird and enjoy it for what it is.
Excellent talker or not, performing or not, you should still
love your bird.
The African grey has been cherished as
one of the best talking species of parrots for hundreds of
years. Accept them for what they are. Never purchase a
parrot with talking as the main objective. They are much
more than that. These birds are highly affectionate and
intelligent creatures sometimes acting like small children.
And we all know what that is. good luck.
We own and
operate one of the largest,selective and most successful
breeding farms on the east coast USA.
today.
We are professional responsible
breeders and we continue to educate people how to properly
maintain their birds
FAQ PAGE is a must Read click here
For diet info
visit our PARROT DIETS section
The African Grey listed as
endangered species article
