The African grey parrot has silvery-grey plumage, with a distinctive bright red tail and a strong black beak. It is known for its great intelligence and its extraordinary ability to imitate sounds and words, which makes it very recognisable among parrots.
40-70 years
400-500 gr
33-40 cm
It has a very high risk of disappearing in the wild if conservation measures are not taken.
The African Grey Parrot reaches sexual maturity at around 4-6 years of age. It breeds in stable pairs and uses cavities in tree trunks for nesting. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs, which she incubates for about 30 days, while the male feeds her. The chicks remain in the nest for 10-12 weeks before flying for the first time.
The African grey parrot is a highly social and intelligent species, which lives in flocks in the wild and establishes strong bonds with its conspecifics. It is noted for its great ability to imitate sounds and words, considered one of the most developed among birds. It also shows a very curious and active behaviour, needing constant stimulation to avoid boredom.
Icon for menu Threats Threats The African Grey Parrot is threatened mainly by habitat loss and illegal capture for the pet trade, which has led to a sharp decline in its wild populations. These pressures have led to it being listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
The African grey parrot feeds mainly on fruits, seeds, nuts and vegetables, although in the wild it also eats flowers, bark and sometimes small insects. In captivity it needs a varied and balanced diet, avoiding toxic foods such as avocado, chocolate and salt.
It is at high risk of extinction in the medium term.
It is not yet at risk, but could be soon if conditions worsen.
Not Used
There are no longer any living individuals of the species.
Only specimens survive in captivity or in scientific collections.
It faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the near future.
The species is relatively secure in the wild and faces no immediate risk of extinction.
