The African Greys Parrot

They say that owls are the wisest birds, if not the wisest animals, in the world. If one prefers human-like intelligence and personality, then the statement may be stereotypical. If there’s any bird that explicitly manifests its close proximity to mankind, as far as emotions and socialization is concerned, then the African Greys Parrot most definitely fits the description among the fewest.

African greys parrot surpasses the popular Yellow Head parrot in intelligence and speech. To compare the two parrots is the same as comparing King Arthur and Merlin, where the king is ever more popular than the wizard, though only a fool would claim that the king is wiser. The same thing could be said about African Grey parrots and they make their famous cousins look like kindergarteners to a high school student in the area of speech. African Greys parrot can basically speak to their owners in any language they are used to listening. More than that, if taught properly like a prattling toddler, they know what simple words to respond with simple inquiries.

African Greys parrot have two classifications distinguishable through their appearance. The Congo African Grey has a lighter tone and their tails are red. The Timneh African Grey has a darker coal-like tone and their tails are maroon. Generally, males are larger than females and they measure at within the range of 12 to 14 inches in length. In some cases females are more distinguishable with their narrower head and slender neck, the same way female human beings possess a graceful contour. Yes indeed, female African Grey parrots look sexier.

The African Greys Parrot Characteristics

Though they may be a dream pet bird to own; caring for African Greys Parrot demands a certain amount of focus, wits and lifelong dedication. Owning an African Greys Parrot is no crash course, and without certain degree of knowledge and willingness, one would definitely fail. It is very important to note that apart from their lifespan of 60 years, the African Greys Parrot are not like any other birds.

For one thing, they are very emotional and easily provoked. Any sign of prolonged neglect and you’d definitely find these creatures plucking their own feathers in self pity that it would break your heart. They demand attention and affection from their owners. Most of all, if you start happy with them then you must try to at least never show them a great change in your mood lest you find them bursting in erratic behavior and throwing tantrums. There is nothing they hate more than a change in their environment. Would you ever want to put a toddler’s beloved teddy bear on top of a book shelf from where it constantly sits right next to his or her pillow? The same understanding applies to African Grey parrots. For these reasons it’s not good to expose them to misbehaving children.

On the bright side, they are very affectionate. They make lovebirds look bad with the way they express their love for their owners. The African Grey parrot would demand to be stroked or scratched on their heads. They would even go far in expressing their feelings by daring themselves to kiss the lips of their owners. However, it is highly advisable never to do so since bacteria from the human mouth is no less than lethal for these birds.

Teaching an African Greys Parrot

Lastly, they are very intelligent, for better or worse. There’s a saying that “there is no such thing as a bad student, only a bad teacher who is teaching them bad habits.” The same thing can be said in the light of teaching African Greys parrot. They are so smart that they can quickly pick up almost everything their owners would do or say. If the owners are not careful with managing their own anger issues, they will suddenly end up hearing a flurry of profanities from their pets or even see them in exploding in sudden outbursts. But if such a mistake were ever to occur, it is of no wonder why the reputation of intelligence from African Greys parrot should not to be treated as an exaggeration. Testament to that is their capability to change easily when the owner trains them to “repent and undo their transgressions”. By teaching them good habits to counter the bad ones, they will eventually end up forgetting the latter bad habits.