Grey Parrot

The African grey parrot is a smart, silvery bird from the rainforests of central Africa. It has soft grey feathers, a bright red tail, and a pale face with a sharp black beak. It may not be as colourful as some parrots, but many people think it is the cleverest talking bird of all.

African greys are amazing at copying sounds. In the wild they whistle and call to their flock, and captive greys can learn to copy human words and household sounds. Some individuals can also learn to use certain labels in trained tasks.

One very famous grey parrot was named Alex. A scientist worked with Alex for many years, and he learned more than a hundred words. He could name colours and shapes, tell which object was bigger, and even understand a little about numbers. Alex helped people see just how clever birds can be.

In the wild, African greys live in the tall trees of the forest and gather in big, noisy flocks. They fly out each day to find fruit, seeds, and nuts to eat, and at night they roost together in the treetops. They are highly social birds.

Sadly, there are fewer African greys in the wild than there used to be, because so many have been caught to be sold as pets and parts of their forest home have been cut down. International commercial trade in wild-caught birds is prohibited under CITES Appendix I, while enforcement and forest protection remain important.