tell me about african grey parrot?

Answer 1

Greys are amazing, but they're not for everyone.
People have given you all of the "stats" on Greys. And they did a terrific job. I don't think I can add more to the pile of info they've given you other than how a Grey can crawl into your heart.
They are decidedly different in "character" than many other birds.
Many people view birds differently according to their own experience, but this might give you some insight:

Amazons are the "Frat Boys" of the bird world. They are party boys for the most part and are so talented. They love to learn sounds and words and they vocalize beautifully.

The African Grey is...well...they're like Senators. We all know they like to party, but you don't see it too much.
Greys are actually quite dignified for the most part. They have this pride about them that you can almost feel. I mean "God Forbid" if your Grey does something that makes him look bad. One of my Greys gets upset if he slips or tumbles in his cage. It's as if he's looking around to see if anyone saw him.
They seem to talk when they have something to add to the conversation, but I don't see a whole lot of prattling on about nothing. If they are talking and it seems like they are just yakking at nothing, check again...they're probably talking to a toy or AT something.
I see play-acting going on all the time with one of my Greys. He'll attack a toy, or chase a ball and you can just see the wheels turning in his head...you just know he's got a game going on...God knows what it is.
I think they're sensitive about the way they are accepted within their "Flock", both with other birds and Humans.
I realize I am being anthropomorphic about alot of this, applying human characteristics to a species of bird, but it's difficult to describe the character of them without relating to something one can understand.
But when they bond with you, there is nothing like it. There is this clear acceptance and understanding they have for you. They seem to know you much better than you know them, and they're smart enough to play on your weaknesses, whether you like it or not!
But to me, they are the most incredible and amazing creatures I have ever come to know.
They are intuitive, sensitive, intelligent and have massive potential. They are all individuals.
Dr. Pepperburg was giving a presentation I attended and mentioned how most of her birds liked toys except Alex. Alex loathed toys and never played with them. Alex likes boxes. He plays in them, makes little windows and doors, rips up the edges to his liking and messes with them endlessly.
To me, when a bird prefers to "remodel" a basically unadorned object such as a box screams creativity and smarts.
They really are incredible birds.

Answer 2

You've been given a lot of "encyclopedia" information about greys but the bottom line is, they are a great bird to have as a pet if you get a domestic, hand-raised baby that has recently been weaned. Although they are certainly known for their talking ability you must realize, they normally don't start talking until they are about 9 months old. Even then, only about 1 in 4 greys will actually talk. They are also know for being shy. While they will talk all day for you, they usually won't utter a word in front of a stranger. They are the only species of animal that have full tonal range. They can mimic any noise: a squeaky door, telephone ring, dog barking, etc. I had the rare opportunity to own a timneh grey that had well over a 2,000 word vocabulary. However, when I would be in the shower, she would first mimic the door bell, then the dog barking, then yell out "I'll be right there" in my vocie. You can't imagin how may times I came flying out of the shower thinking someone was at my door only to discover it was my bird.
Greys are also prone to plucking their feathers if you don't keep them "busy". They are very smart and get bored very easily. Hope this helps you.

Answer 3

The African Grey Parrot has been called "the perfect mix of brains and beauty" (Bird Talk, Aug. 92) and the "cadillac of parrots" (Bird Talk Sept. 93). Much of the notoriety of this species stems from the phenomenal gift of speech members exhibit. While many parrots learn some words or phrases, many cases have been documented of African Greys learning multiple lines of songs, prayers, or plays. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the best talking parrot or parrot like bird as a African Grey named Prudle. Prudle was captured near Jinja, Uganda in 1958 and when "he" retired from public life in 1977 had a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words.

Answer 4

The African Grey Parrot is a medium-sized parrot about 12 inches/30cm long (Congo subspecies) of the genus Psittacus, native to Africa. As the name implies, the African grey parrot is predominantly grey, with accents of white and a red or maroon tail depending on the subspecies. African Grey parrots, like all parrots, are zygodactyl, having 4 toes on each foot—two front and two back. They feed primarily on nuts and fruits, supplemented by leafy matter.

While comparative judgements of animal intelligence are always very difficult to make objectively, Psittaciformes are generally regarded as being amongst the most intelligent of birds. African grey parrots are particularly noted for their cognitive abilities, which are believed to have evolved as a consequence of their history of cooperative feeding on the ground in central Africa.

Irene Pepperberg's research with captive African grey parrots, including Alex, have shown that these parrots are capable of associating human words with their meanings, at least to some extent. Ambitious claims of language use have also been made for another African grey parrot, called N'kisi, who has a vocabulary of over a thousand words; assertions that this bird has also exhibited powers of telepathy are more controversial. However, there is little doubt that African Greys and other parrots (especially macaws and cockatoos) are highly intelligent in comparison with other birds.

African Grey parrots captured in the wild need time and effort to adapt to human presence, and have a tendency to growl. Hand-fed African Grey parrots generally make wonderful and very affectionate companions. Pet owners often refer to their relationship with them as being "like having a five-year-old child." (See above.) They are generally thought to be the best mimics of all parrots. While this is probably true, the apocryphal reports of some Greys learning the "ultrasonic sounds" of TV remote controls are almost certainly false (most, if not all, remotes use infrared light rather than any frequency of sound to communicate with the TV).

Anyone considering getting an African Grey parrot as a pet should note that they quickly become bored unless provided with stimulating toys and interaction with their owners. Their lifespans are 40+ years in captivity.

There are two subspecies:

Congo African grey parrot, Psittacus erithacus erithacus
Timneh African grey parrot, Psittacus erithacus timneh
Congo African grey parrots (CAGs) are larger birds with light grey feathers, deep red tails and black beaks. The other subspecies, Timneh African grey parrots (TAGs), are smaller in size, have a darker charcoal grey coloring, a darker maroon tail, and a lighter horn colored beak. A few authors recognize a third subspecies, Ghana African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus princeps), which is similar to CAG, but darker and slightly smaller.

Answer 5

An excellent bird and very loving too. It is shy in the presence of other and would remain quiet but when left alone would speak a lot. Pretty sturdy bird. U can feed him on peanuts , green chillies , fruits , corn and seed of sunflower. Exceptionally intelligent with keen sense of hearing. Its ability to capture the nuances of various sounds and moods is amazing. Doesnt bite to owner . Dont try to determine its sex. The male and female look alike. Breeds in captivity and is generally happy.

Answer 6

http://www.upatsix.com/faq/greyfaq.htm
http://www.itsagreysworld.com/articles/about.htm