The African grey parrot is a medium-sized grey parrot with a bright red tail, famous for its intelligence and ability to mimic speech. Its popularity as a pet has devastated wild populations.
Interesting facts
- African greys are among the best mimics of human speech of all birds.
- The closely related Timneh parrot of West Africa is now considered a separate species.
- More than a million wild African greys were exported for the pet trade in recent decades.
- Since 2017, international commercial trade in wild-caught African greys has been banned under CITES.
- In Ghana, numbers have fallen by more than 90 percent.
- Flocks gather at forest clearings to eat mineral-rich clay.
Behaviour
African greys are highly social and gather in large, noisy roosts at night. By day, they fly out in small groups to feed in the canopy and visit clearings for clay.
Breeding and young
Pairs nest in tree cavities, laying three to five eggs. Incubation takes about 30 days, and chicks fledge after about 12 weeks.
Threats and conservation
Trapping for the pet trade and loss of forest to logging and agriculture. Some are also hunted for meat and for traditional medicine.
Where to see it
- Lobéké National Park, Cameroon
- Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve, Central African Republic, at forest clearings
- Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of the Congo
- Never buy wild-caught parrots
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
Odzala-Kokoua: Western Lowland Gorillas in the Congo Basin
