You're a Wild One

(African Greys in the Wild)

This article is about African Greys in the Wild. The information was compiled from a variety of sources and thus is meant only to give the reader an introduction to Greys in the wild.

WARNING: The numerical information (sizes, weights, etc) in this article was compiled from several sources and is only meant to give the reader a general idea of the sizes, weights, etc. The wide ranges of values is a result of combining data from several different sources.

Here are some quick links to the sections in this article.

• First Things First
• Classification - A Grey is a Grey... Right?
• Congo (CAG)-vs-(TAG) Timneh Visual Differences
• Sexual differences
• Breeding
• Rearing
• Feeding
• The Flock
• Final Thoughts

First Things First

First of all, what is an African Grey and why isn't it an African "Gray"? The African Grey has predominantly gray feathers but it does have red/orange/maroon tail feathers, a black beak, and a white face. So one would assume (especially an American) that it would be called an African Gray. So why is it "Grey" and not "Gray"? The British spelling of "gray" (ie Grey) is used because British sailors were among the first to take the Grey out of their habitat and keep them as pets. Thus the British spelling of the word; grey.

The African Grey was first domesticated in the villages in Africa where it originates. They are generally found in western and central Africa from Guinea to northern Angola in the lowland forests. The map below (shown in red and black) indicates generally where they can be found in Africa. It is approximately an area between +10 degrees and -10 degrees latitude.

So the name, "African Grey", comes from the continent of origin plus their dominant color. The name "African Grey" is not a very creative or interesting name but for those that are familiar with Greys, you know that they are both creative and interesting.

Their domestication in Europe has been noted as early as (1509-1547) during the reign of King Henry VIII of England. The Grey's popularity spread through the years and according to Parrots - A Guide to Parrots of the World by Tony Juniper and Mike Parr it was the second most heavily traded parrot in the world during the 1980's.

Classification - A Grey is a Grey... Right?

There is one species of African Grey Parrot; Psittacus erithacus. The nominant subspecies (race) is Psittacus erithacus erithacus (P.e.erithacus), commonly known as the "Congo" African Grey Parrot. Often referred to on the web as CAG. Naturalist Carolus Linnaeus is credited with this classification in 1758. Other not so common names used are the Camaroon, Angola, or Togo. These names often refer to where they are found in Africa. The Gongo African Grey can be found in a region approximately bounded by the Southeast Ivory Coast, west Kenya, Northwest Tanzania and Northern Angola. They can also be found on the Islands of Bioko (Fernando Poo) and Principe. The general area for this subspecies is indicated in red on the map of Africa shown above.

There is also at least one other subspecies (race), Psittacus erithacus timneh (P.e.timneh), known as the "Timneh" Grey Parrot. This subspecies is often referred to on the web as TAG. Fraser classified this subspecies in 1844. The Timneh can be found in Southern Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the westernmost Ivory Coast. The general area for this subspecies is indicated in black on the map of Africa shown above.

There are also a few ornithologists that believe that there is a third subspecies (race) known as Psittacus erithacus princeps (P.e.princeps), often referred to as the "Ghana" Grey Parrot. Boyd Alexander classified this subspecies in 1909. They can be found on the Islands of Princepe and Bioko (Fernando Poo) in the Gulf of Guinea. However, in 1973 a research group from Bonn under the direction of M. Eisentraut determined that this was not a separate subspecies.

While all of this "classification" sounds very scientific, there is still some debate about whether there are two or three subspecies. Some believe that the third variation (P.e.princeps) is the same subspecies as P.e.erithacus and their differences are simply a result of their habitats. Generally the African Grey is found to be larger and lighter in color as you move east across their habitat in Africa. Check out the web article titled "African Grey Variations..." by Jean "the African Queen" Pattison here for more detailed information on this topic.

The confusion doesn't stop there. Because of export restrictions in Africa the "names" don't always match the actual location of origin of the Grey. For example, after exportation from the Congo became illegal, Grey's exported from other locations were still referred to as Congo African Greys because Congo was the common name. So a Grey from Camaroon may have actually been called a Congo. Similarly, Greys captured in the Congo but smuggled to another part of Africa for export, were sometimes exported using a false name. So for example a Grey captured in the Congo may have been exported from Camaroon as a Camaroon African Grey. So a Camaroon may be from the Congo while a Congo may be from Camaroon. Clear?

I'm going to try to keep it simple in this article. So only two distinctions will be made for the purposes of this article: Congo (P.e.erithacus) and Timneh (P.e.timneh). These two are usually referred to as CAG (Congo African Grey) and TAG (Timneh African Grey).

Congo (CAG)-vs-(TAG) Timneh Visual Differences

The Congo African Grey (CAG) is the largest of the Greys and weighs about 16oz or about 450g. The CAG is about 13 to 14 inches (about 33 cm to 37 cm) 1 in length. Its wing length is about 9 inches (about 22 cm to 25 cm) 1 and its tail length is about 3.5 inches (about 8.5 cm to 9.5 cm) 1. As mentioned before, variations in the size of the Congo African Grey depend on its location or origin within Africa. These variations are a result of climate and diet. The CAG has solid gray feathers except for a red or orange tail. The darkness of its gray feathers depends on its location of origin in Africa. Greys from the rain forest and higher elevations are often darker than Greys from the savanna or cultivated regions. Similarly Greys from the east parts of their habitat are lighter in color than the Greys from the western parts of their habitat. The CAG's beak is solid black. The Grey also has a characteristic white facial area.

The Timneh is slightly smaller than the CAG. The TAG weighs about 10oz or 300g and is about 11 to 13 inches (about 30 cm to 32 cm) 1 in length. Its wing length is about 8 inches (about 20 cm to 23 cm) 1 and it's tail length is about 3 inches (about 8 cm to 9 cm) 1. The TAG is visually very different from the CAG. The Timneh has darker gray feathers, a maroon or reddish brown colored tail, Uppertail-coverts are gray tinged with red, and it has a horn-colored (reddish-gray to pink) upper mandible (beak). The mandible gradually becomes darker toward the tip. The Timneh also has the characteristic white facial area like the CAG. The Timneh may get its name from the Timmani peoples of the "Temme" tribe in Sierre Leone which in one of the regions where it is found.

Another coloration is sometimes found where there are red speckles on the Grey. These are sometimes referred to as "king birds" or "king jockos". I'm not sure of the origin of these nicknames but "Jakos" is also another nickname for the Grey Parrot.

Sexual Differences

Greys are monomorphic which means they are visually difficult to tell the sexes apart. The opposite of monomorphic is dimorphic which is where the sexes are distinct which for example is the case with the Eclectus parrot. Statistically the male Grey is slightly larger but this is difficult to visually detect and not reliable. As you recall from above, variations across the wide range of the Grey's habitat lead to variations in size and color. This further complicates the ability to visually distinguish the sexes. However, there are sexual differences if you are able to compare Grey's from the same habitat. For example, the male Grey usually has a flatter and squarer head and relatively larger upper beak. Some experts claim the male is darker in color while others claim the female is darker in color. This is probably a result of comparing Greys from different geographical locations. As noted previously, Greys become lighter in color as you move east across Africa. There are other theories such as the feather color around the vent, which claims that males have solid red feathers in this region while females have a gray border.

Another theory is the shape of the iris. The male's iris is round while the female's iris is elliptical. One final theory is that the male has a solid colored chest while the female's chest gradually gets lighter as it moves from chest to tail. These are all very subtle differences and may be detectable by someone that handles a lot of Greys such as a veterinarian or breeder. If Greys from the same geographical location are compared then these minor differences may be detectable by experts. However, visually sexing a Grey isn't accurate even by the experts. As if Congo's weren't difficult enough to visually sex, the Timnehs are even harder. If you want to know the sex of your Grey, have no fear because there are reliable ways such as Laparoscopy (surgical/visual) and DNA (blood) testing that can accurately sex your African Grey.

Breeding

Captive breeding of African Greys began outside Africa as early as the late 1700's (1799?) in France. Captive breeding in the US was successful in early 1900's (1920?). Greys are capable of breeding between about 5 to 30 years of age. The breeding season varies according to location but is usually during the dry season. Some claim the offspring is usually produced during or just after the rainy season. Note that the rainy season varies based on which side of the equator the habitat is located. While others claim that it depends on the location and dry season breeding occurs in some areas such as east Africa. African Grey's form lifelong monogamous bonds. Unlike New World Parrots (Central and South America parrots such as Macaws and Amazons) Greys sometimes breed near each other in loose colonies. In contrast, the New World Parrots pair off away from their flocks to breed. Some Greys also pair off from their flocks.

The Grey pairs nest in deep cavities in the trees high (10m to 30m) above the ground. Multiple pairs may nest in a small area but typically there will only be one pair per tree. The clutch is usually 2-4 eggs. The eggs will be laid over a period of 2 to 3 days. The hen will wait for the final egg to be laid before incubating them. This will ensure that all the chicks will hatch at approximately the same time and weight. The eggs will weigh about 0.7oz (20g) 1. The male feeds the female while she incubates the eggs for about 28 to 30 days. During this incubation period, the female only leaves the nest to release droppings.

Rearing

The chicks will hatch after about 28 to 30 days of incubation. The newborn chick will weigh about 0.5oz (14g). The parents act as a team to raise their babies and both parents will share the feeding responsibilities. During the first week, the chick's eyes are closed and its neck is too weak to support its head. The chick can't hold its head up for feeding so the hen will use her beak to pick up the chick and lay it on its back for feeding. After about 10 days, the chick's white down feathers will be gone and replaced with developing gray pigmentation down feathers. The chick's eyes usually open between 10 and 18 days. At about 4-7 weeks they will have a light gray down and the first signs of wing feathers will be visible. At about 6 weeks their red tail feathers will be visible. The chick will not have its first molt until about 1 year. At about 10-12 weeks, the chicks may venture out of the nest but will continue to be fed by the parents. The CAG chick will weigh about 12oz (340g) when it leaves the nest. At about 3 to 4 months, the chick can begin to eat hard foods such as fruit and nuts.

According to Avian behavior consultant Jane Hallander, Congo Greys require a longer period of maturation compared to the Timneh Greys. She bases this on Grey vocalization patterns in the wild. She found that the Timnehs "talk" using phrases in about 6 months, which is about twice as early as the Congo Greys. She believes this is a good indicator of relative maturity and the relative readiness of the bird to leave their family units. Some believe the Timneh is the calmer of the Grey's because the Timneh matures faster. The theory is that they are genetically programmed to learn survival skills much faster than the Congo. Before this maturity level, small family size groups (5-10) of Greys are often seen together. Darker tail tips characterize the immature Grey. They also have a gray tinge on the Undertail-coverts and a black or gray iris. As it matures, it's iris will progress from black, dark gray (few months), whitish, pale yellow (at 6 to 8 months), and finally to a straw yellow. The final coloration after a couple years is ultimately a light color but it may or may not have a yellow tint.

Here is a summary of their development. These are just estimates and vary depending on many factors.

• 10 days - White Down replaced by gray down
• 10-18 days - Eyes open fully
• 4-7 weeks - First signs of wing feathers
• 6 weeks - Visible red tail feathers
• 10-12 weeks - Chicks venture out of the nest
• 3-4 months - Eats hard foods
• 5-8 months - Iris changes color
• 12 months - Fist molt

Feeding

Greys typically roost far from their feeding areas. At dawn they split off from the flock into smaller groups to feed. At the feeding spot, small groups will take turns feeding. Greys eat both plants and soil. Yes "soil". The technical term for this is Geophagy. They feed both off the ground and in the forest canopy. Some will descend to the ground to forage while others remain in the trees. The entire flock does not feed on the ground at the same time. Most of their diet is obtained from the top branches of trees. They commonly inhabit lowland forests, forest edges and clearings. They have also been found up to 7300ft (2200m) elevations. Their native diet is mostly high occurring fruits such as the flesh of oil-palm fruit, seeds, fruits and berries. Since they feed in trees and on the ground, they must be very alert to predators from above and on the ground. Some believe this is the cause for the Grey's apparent cautious behavior.

The Greys are considered to be "pests" in some regions because they feed on half ripe corn in cultivated fields and on groundnut crops. The ground foraging behavior of Greys is exploited by poachers to successfully trap Greys for export. Poachers use this feeding behavior against the Greys in the Congo Basin Forest to trap them for export. You can read about it here in an article by Diana May. Importing to US was banned in 1993 under the Wild Bird Conservation Act signed October 1992 but importation is still legal in other countries. As mentioned previously, Greys typically roost (sleep) far from their feeding areas. Here's a vivid description of their flight to their roosting spot from the book The Grey Parrot by Wolfgang de Grahl.

"They were impossible to overlook, since in large flocks, and with considerable screeching and croaking, they flew along rivers and roosted in thick mangrove forests. ...... Their flights look heavy and resembles that of ducks; they beat their wings rapidly, as if afraid of falling out of the sky. Before they land on a branch, one can observe a peculiar trait: they hover like a kestrel, with the body almost vertical"

The Flock

While being raised, the Greys stay in small (5-10) family units. Their flocks are usually very noisy and range in sizes from about 100 to 200 and up. Here's a great description from Parrots - A Guide to Parrots of the World by Tony Juniper and Mike Parr.

"In many Localities this species is especially noticeable at dawn and dusk when noisy flocks pass high overhead in fast direct flight on rapid shallow wingbeats between roosting and feeding areas."

Greys are very vocal and make a wide range of noises. Their vocalizations include everything from squawks and whistles to screeches and imitations of other birds and mammals. Greys are a single-species flock, which means that only Greys are found in their flocks. This is not true of other parrot species like the New World Parrots (such as Amazons and Macaws). Grey flocks frequently roost (sleep) in tall palms or trees overlooking water in very large communal roosts that can reach 10,000 individuals. They often roost far away from feeding areas. So each morning they split up into smaller groups of about 30 to 200 to fly to feeding areas. Each evening they will return to their roosting place. Here's a great description of their behavior as the smaller groups rejoin into the larger communal roosts. This is from "The Behavior of Grey Parrots in the Rainforest of the Central African Republic. 8, 8-9" By May in PsittaScene.

"Within the hour, the tree becomes filled with Grey parrots that together produce a cacophony of whistles, squaks, shrieks, chirps, and other sounds."

Their loud noises and vocalizations will stop after sunset when it becomes completely dark.

Final Thoughts

Greys are a majestic parrot in the wild and their habitat is continually shrinking due to deforestation, agricultural utilization, and oil drilling. Their numbers in the wild is also threatened due to trapping for export so this makes it critical to support your local breeders.

The information in this article was compiled from numerous books, papers, and Internet resources. In addition to the links in this article, the following books are excellent sources of information. If you want to learn more and find more in depth information then I recommend that you check out the books listed at the end of this article.

Notes:
1) Numerical data (weights, lengths, etc) in this article are only approximations created by combining data from various sources. The wide variations are most likely a result of geographical variations because the size of Grey varies depending on its location of origin in Africa. Check out the web article titled "African Grey Variations..." by Jean "the African Queen" Pattison here for more detailed information on this topic.

• African Grey Parrots , Maggie Wright, Barrons Educational Series, 2001, ISBN 0764110357
• The African Grey Parrot Handbook , Mattie Sue Athan and Dianalee Deter, Barrons Educational Series, 2000, ISBN 0764109936
• The Essential African Grey , Pamela Leis Higdon, Howell Book House, 1999, ISBN 1582450285
• Parrots, A Guide to Parrots of the World , Tony Juniper and Mike Parr, Yale University Press, 1998, ISBN 0300074530
• African Grey Parrots .... as a hobby , Helmut Pinter, TFH Publications, 1994, ISBN 0793800935
• The Grey Parrot , Wolfgang de Grahl, TFH Publications, 1989, ISBN 0866220941