African Grey Parrot psittacus erithacus
Length: 33cms/13 inches
Weight: 400-650 grams
Life Span: 40-50 years
Incubation: 28 days
Age at Weaning: 12-16 weeks
Age at Maturity: 3-4 years
Natural Habitat: Central Africa, Tanzania, Western Kenya
African Grey parrots are birds of the lowland forests and coastal mangroves. They congregate in large flocks at roosting sites. They start to congregating at these roosting sites from before dusk till after night fall. Several hundred birds use the same roost. Favourite roosting sites are tall trees bordering forests, in forest clearings or on island on lakes or rivers. They tend to follow regular routes to and from roosting sites, flying high about he tree tops calling loudly. Their call consists of high pitched screams and whistles and when alarmed a harsh screech.
Their distribution is largely identical to the range of the African oil palm, the fruit of which forms the bulk of the birds diet. They frequently visit open country and savannah woodlands to feed, they also raid maize crops causing considerable damage! Their normal diet is found in the treetops, and it consists of seeds, nuts, fruits and berries.
The nesting site is usually as high as possible in a tree hollow. A normal clutch consists of 3-4 eggs, occasionally 5. Nesting is usually from July to September in Uganda, early August in the Congo, January in Nigeria and April in Liberia.
Pet potential: The African Grey is extremely intelligent, perhaps topping all other parrots in their abiitiy to learn new things throughout their lives. Adult greys are considered shy and introverted, and usually bond with only one person, being aloof with everyone else. They are also one of the most rigid and pattern orientated of all the parrots, being keenly observant and sensitive to the slightest change in routine. Excellent talkers and mimics, these birds can accurately imitate specific human voices and household sounds such as the telephone or microwave. They are very empathetic and emotional birds, which have distinct personalities and can be very demanding of their owner's time and attention.
Talking ability: Excellent
Noise level: Moderate
Cage requirements: a minimum of 30 x 24 inches, bar spacing 3/4" -1"
Interesting fact: African Greys prefer to climb from branch to branch rather than flying.
Weight: 400-650 grams
Life Span: 40-50 years
Incubation: 28 days
Age at Weaning: 12-16 weeks
Age at Maturity: 3-4 years
Natural Habitat: Central Africa, Tanzania, Western Kenya
African Grey parrots are birds of the lowland forests and coastal mangroves. They congregate in large flocks at roosting sites. They start to congregating at these roosting sites from before dusk till after night fall. Several hundred birds use the same roost. Favourite roosting sites are tall trees bordering forests, in forest clearings or on island on lakes or rivers. They tend to follow regular routes to and from roosting sites, flying high about he tree tops calling loudly. Their call consists of high pitched screams and whistles and when alarmed a harsh screech.
Their distribution is largely identical to the range of the African oil palm, the fruit of which forms the bulk of the birds diet. They frequently visit open country and savannah woodlands to feed, they also raid maize crops causing considerable damage! Their normal diet is found in the treetops, and it consists of seeds, nuts, fruits and berries.
The nesting site is usually as high as possible in a tree hollow. A normal clutch consists of 3-4 eggs, occasionally 5. Nesting is usually from July to September in Uganda, early August in the Congo, January in Nigeria and April in Liberia.
Pet potential: The African Grey is extremely intelligent, perhaps topping all other parrots in their abiitiy to learn new things throughout their lives. Adult greys are considered shy and introverted, and usually bond with only one person, being aloof with everyone else. They are also one of the most rigid and pattern orientated of all the parrots, being keenly observant and sensitive to the slightest change in routine. Excellent talkers and mimics, these birds can accurately imitate specific human voices and household sounds such as the telephone or microwave. They are very empathetic and emotional birds, which have distinct personalities and can be very demanding of their owner's time and attention.
Talking ability: Excellent
Noise level: Moderate
Cage requirements: a minimum of 30 x 24 inches, bar spacing 3/4" -1"
Interesting fact: African Greys prefer to climb from branch to branch rather than flying.
Timneh Grey Parrot psittacus erithacus
Length: 30.5cm/12 inches
Weight: 235-275 grams
Life span: 40 plus years
Incubation: 27 days
Age at weaning: 12-16 weeks
Age at maturity: 3 years
Natural habitat: Equatorial Africa.
Timnehs are birds of the western parts of the moist upper Guinea forests and the bordering savannah's of West Africa. The birds can be seen flocking to their roosting sites in the evening. They start to congregate from before dusk till after night fall and you will find several hundred birds will use the same roost. Their favourite roosting sites can be found in tall trees on the borders of forest clearings, or islands found on lakes and rivers. They tend to follow regular routes to and from the roosting sites, flying high above the tree tops calling loudly. Their call is high pitched screams and whistles and when alarmed a harsh screech.
Their distribution corresponds with the range of the African oil palm, the fruit of which forms the bulk of the birds diet. They frequently visit open country and savannah woodlands to feed, and have been known to raid maize crops causing considerable damage. Their normal diet is found in the treetops. This consists of seeds, nuts, fruit and berries. Like the African Grey they prefer to climb from branch to branch rather than fly.
They like to nest as high up as possible in a tree hollow and will normally have a clutch of 3-4 eggs.
The plumage of the adult Timneh is darker than that of the African Grey, with the red of the tail feathers duller and more maroon in colour than scarlet. The upper tail feathers are maroon covering grey feathers that are tinged with red. The upper mandible is horn coloured and tipped with black. The iris's are pale yellow and legs grey. There is a bare patch of skin around the eyes which will be coloured grey when the birds are young but they will change to greyish-yellow in adulthood.
Pet potential: The Timneh is like a slightly smaller African Grey, extremely intelligent with a great ability to continue learning through-out their lives. Adults are considered shy and introvert and usually bond with only one person, often being aloof with everyone else. They are also one of the most rigid and pattern orientated of all parrots, being keenly observant and sensitive to the slightest change in routine. They have the capability to be excellent takers and mimics, accurately imitating household sounds such as the telephone or microwave. They are so accurate with human voices you can recognise the person they are mimicking. They are very empathetic and emotional birds who have distinct personalities and can be very demanding of their owners time and attention. Many people chose the African Grey, or the “Congo”, because of their bright scarlet tail and well known talking abilities. However don't ignore the Timneh, they are fantastic birds, speak well and make excellent pets.
Talking ability: Excellent
Noise level: Moderate
Cage requirements: a minimum of 36 x 24 inches with bar spacing of ¾-1 inch but ideally the larger the better.
Interesting fact: The Timneh Grey is rarer in captivity and more difficult to breed than the African Grey.
Weight: 235-275 grams
Life span: 40 plus years
Incubation: 27 days
Age at weaning: 12-16 weeks
Age at maturity: 3 years
Natural habitat: Equatorial Africa.
Timnehs are birds of the western parts of the moist upper Guinea forests and the bordering savannah's of West Africa. The birds can be seen flocking to their roosting sites in the evening. They start to congregate from before dusk till after night fall and you will find several hundred birds will use the same roost. Their favourite roosting sites can be found in tall trees on the borders of forest clearings, or islands found on lakes and rivers. They tend to follow regular routes to and from the roosting sites, flying high above the tree tops calling loudly. Their call is high pitched screams and whistles and when alarmed a harsh screech.
Their distribution corresponds with the range of the African oil palm, the fruit of which forms the bulk of the birds diet. They frequently visit open country and savannah woodlands to feed, and have been known to raid maize crops causing considerable damage. Their normal diet is found in the treetops. This consists of seeds, nuts, fruit and berries. Like the African Grey they prefer to climb from branch to branch rather than fly.
They like to nest as high up as possible in a tree hollow and will normally have a clutch of 3-4 eggs.
The plumage of the adult Timneh is darker than that of the African Grey, with the red of the tail feathers duller and more maroon in colour than scarlet. The upper tail feathers are maroon covering grey feathers that are tinged with red. The upper mandible is horn coloured and tipped with black. The iris's are pale yellow and legs grey. There is a bare patch of skin around the eyes which will be coloured grey when the birds are young but they will change to greyish-yellow in adulthood.
Pet potential: The Timneh is like a slightly smaller African Grey, extremely intelligent with a great ability to continue learning through-out their lives. Adults are considered shy and introvert and usually bond with only one person, often being aloof with everyone else. They are also one of the most rigid and pattern orientated of all parrots, being keenly observant and sensitive to the slightest change in routine. They have the capability to be excellent takers and mimics, accurately imitating household sounds such as the telephone or microwave. They are so accurate with human voices you can recognise the person they are mimicking. They are very empathetic and emotional birds who have distinct personalities and can be very demanding of their owners time and attention. Many people chose the African Grey, or the “Congo”, because of their bright scarlet tail and well known talking abilities. However don't ignore the Timneh, they are fantastic birds, speak well and make excellent pets.
Talking ability: Excellent
Noise level: Moderate
Cage requirements: a minimum of 36 x 24 inches with bar spacing of ¾-1 inch but ideally the larger the better.
Interesting fact: The Timneh Grey is rarer in captivity and more difficult to breed than the African Grey.