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The Congo African Grey Parrot

The most popular and intelligent parrot

The Congo African Grey parrot is the most common African Grey pet. And the African Grey parrot is the most talkative and intelligent of all parrots.

African Grey parrots make excellent pets and can learn to speak a very large vocabulary. They can even learn how to mimick different voices!

congo african grey parrot download

Greys can become one-person birds if you don’t socialize them enough with other people. They are also highly intelligent and so they can get bored easily. It’s important to provide them with plenty of toys (especially puzzle ones!) They are prone to feather plucking because of their risk of boredom.

The two subspecies of African Grey parrots (Congos and Timnehs) aren’t very different personality-wise. The Congo African Grey parrot is more popular, but some people believe they tend to be more high strung. So, some think that Timnehs are better companions. I think this depends on the bird, so it’s important to interact with a few before you adopt so you can draw your own conclusions.

Fast Facts
Name Congo African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus)
Origin Africa
Size 400-650 grams, 12-14″
Color Differences Congos are light gray with black beaks and bright red tail feathers.
Owner Congos need an experienced parrot owner.
Average Cost $1200
Lifespan Approximately 50 years in captivity
Noise Congos are low to moderately noisy. They don’t tend to scream, so you can actually keep them in an apartment.
Qualities Very intelligent, can be nervous and high strung, can read owners’ moods, not great with/for young children, can become a one-person parrot if not socialized well, need someone that is patient and gentle, females can be less aggressive than males, tend to get bored easily which can lead to feather plucking.
Abilities Excellent – They are known for fantastic talking abilities. They can learn a very large vocabulary and learn to mimick different voices. Some can learn to use and understand vocabulary in context.
Interaction/Time Requirements Congos need interaction daily and socialization with others.
Diet They need a diet for large birds.
Supplies Needed They need supplies for large birds.
See How Congo African Grey Parrots Compare to Other Types of Pet Birds!
Congo African Grey Videos
“*Einstein the famous talking African Grey Parrot!*”

Video by africangreyparrotsCongos are truly amazing pet birds. They are the most common parrots seen in animal shows and on television. This video shows just how entertaining and intelligent they can be! 
“Amazing Talking One Year Old Congo African Gray!”

Video by OnePickieChickieThis video shows how Congos can learn to talk very well at a very young age! 
“Tui the African Grey has a Tantrum”

Video by kskiwiThis is a great video that shows how funny Congos can be with their voice mimicry and how they can likely know exactly what they are saying. 
Congo African Grey Training
parrot-training

Congo Greys can become very aggressive if they are not trained properly from the start. They can be loving, caring, attached companions. But if they are not trained properly, they can become very sensitive and may not even be comfortable leaving their cage.

So, we highly recommend you find an effective parrot training program. We personally recommend the Bird Tricks Parrot Training Course by Chet Womach. You can see many of his videos for free to get an idea of how much he knows about parrots and how he can help you train yours.

Below is one of Chet’s videos that discusses two tips on how to train your African Grey. This video is a great example of how effective the training courses are and how they are filled with a wealth of useful information for any bird owner. This video is really only the first step in getting your bird tamed. We highly recommend checking out Chet’s curriculum for taming your Congo even further.
For more information about Chet’s course, you can visit the Bird Tricks webpage here.
Congo African Grey Education

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Have A Great Story About Your Congo African Grey?

Share your experience with others! There’s no better way to learn about a pet bird than from an owner.

Some helpful information for potential owners can be: What is the sex of your bird? Is he/she friendly? Loving? Cuddly? Talented? Messy? Loud? You get the idea!

Your comment may just help someone decide whether or not this pet bird is for them.

2017-05-18T14:59:24-08:00

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