The most common phrase I have heard regarding African Grey's is
"the perfect mix of brains and beauty". I often hear people say
African Grey's are not as "colorful" as most parrots. They
apparently have not seen the true personality of an African Grey
Parrot. They have a remarkable, noble beauty that takes your breath
away!
African Grey's have the most extraordinary flair for speech. But do
not think that they are limited to speech only! They can mimic
almost any sound in your home. Although most greys do not start
talking until a year in age, there are many cases where they will
speak earlier. Some greys do not start speaking until 2 years, so
never give up hope! They have the capacity to have a vocabulary of
over 2000 words. I would like to add this "food for thought"...
there is no guarantee that a Grey will speak. This should never be
the sole reason for buying a grey. (Please see our Talking
Article.) There is so much more to an african grey than just
speech. a They are more human than some will admit. They feel our
emotions and act accordingly. They do not mimic, they learn from
us. Speaking in sentences, responding appropriately to questions,
the physical motions to comfort us when we are sad, the list goes
on and on.
African Grey's have the intellectual capacity of a 5 year old child
with the emotions of a 2 year old. Because of this higher
intelligence, they can be demanding pets and rightly so. They
require constant attention along with a stimulating environment
that includes various types of toys, a large cage, a
play-stand.
Generally speaking, Greys are cautious birds. They have a tendency
to sit back and watch you before giving themselves up freely. They
tend to not be very outgoing towards strangers. Then are very
intuitive to your feelings and it is always best to approach them
with a calm demeanor. Once you win the trust of an African Grey,
he/she will be your best friend for life. They are very dedicated
and loyal birds.
My greys are very outgoing and playful in our home environment. Our
home is their "safe place". They realize nothing will harm them
here. My birds love to boisterously and acrobatically attack their
toys. You have never seen a parrot play until you have first
handedly seen a Grey scream bloody murder at their toys! The
infamous Grey scream, it is an experience you will not
forget.
In sum... although African Greys are the most popular pet parrot,
they are not for everyone. They stand apart from the rest. It is
not easy being a caretaker of an African Grey or any parrot for
that matter. Lots of love, time, patience and effort goes into the
relationship we have with our avian companions. They give us so
much more than we can ever return.... Are you ready to take the
African Grey challenge?
