Psittacus erithacus
African Grey Parrot
African greys are among the most cognitively advanced companion animals kept in homes — and among the most frequently rehomed when owners underestimate their needs.
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At a glance
- Scientific name
- Psittacus erithacus
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Origin
- Rainforests of West and Central Africa
- Lifespan
- 40–60 years
- Adult size
- 33 cm
- Weight
- 400–550 g
- Temperament
- Highly intelligent, sensitive and prone to anxiety
- Activity level
- High
- Social needs
- Very high; a lonely grey deteriorates quickly
- Intelligence
- Exceptional — capable of referential language use and counting in research settings
- Noise
- Moderate but piercing; mimics household sounds accurately
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 90 x 90 x 120 cm with a large play stand outside the cage
- Space requirement
- A social area of the home, not an isolated room
- Temperature
- 18–27°C
- Humidity
- 50–70% — this is a rainforest species
- Exercise
- Several hours daily of flight, foraging and problem-solving
- Grooming
- Self-preening plus frequent showers; produces feather dust
Life stages and changing needs
Expanded care guidance · Updated 7 October 2026 · Not professionally reviewed
Young animals and settling in
A young large parrot such as an African grey should be fully weaned and feeding independently before it goes to a new home; hand-rearing a chick yourself is a specialist undertaking with real risks of aspiration and poor socialisation, not a standard beginner task. Set up a spacious cage and play stand before arrival, and let the bird settle into a predictable daily routine, since this intelligent, sensitive species can develop anxiety-based behaviours quickly if its early environment is unstable.
Adult care and reproductive changes
Adults need several hours daily of supervised flight or vigorous activity, structured foraging and mental challenge; a bird confined to a cage with only a perch and dish is at serious risk of feather-damaging behaviour and stereotypic actions. Hormonal surges can increase territoriality, biting or egg-laying even without a mate present; avoid cuddling or stroking patterns known to trigger reproductive hormones unless you have a specific breeding plan and avian veterinary support.
Later life and changing needs
With a potential lifespan of forty to sixty years, owning a large parrot is a multi-generational commitment, and a written plan for the bird's care after your own lifetime is a genuine welfare consideration, not an afterthought. Older birds remain cognitively and physically active and should keep flight or climbing opportunities suited to their ability; new feather plucking, lameness or a sudden change in vocalisation needs an experienced avian vet's assessment rather than being accepted as inevitable ageing.
Diet and feeding
Formulated pellets, fresh vegetables, some fruit, nuts in strict moderation
Base the diet on a formulated pellet suited to large parrots, supplemented daily with a wide variety of fresh vegetables and a smaller amount of fruit, with nuts offered only in strict moderation given their high fat content. A seed-only diet is nutritionally incomplete and strongly linked to obesity, fatty liver disease and calcium deficiency in this species; convert gradually from seed to pellets under veterinary guidance rather than suddenly restricting food.
Offer food in a foraging format where possible, since searching for food is an important behavioural outlet for a species this intelligent. Avoid avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and salty human food entirely. A grey that suddenly reduces its food intake, becomes fluffed and quiet, or shows changes in droppings needs prompt avian veterinary attention, since this species, like most parrots, hides illness well.
Daily care and ongoing checks
Every day
Provide daily supervised time out of the cage for flight or vigorous exercise, along with rotated foraging toys and novel objects to prevent the boredom that commonly underlies feather-damaging behaviour in this highly intelligent species. Offer consistent social interaction, since an African grey left alone for long periods can develop serious behavioural and welfare problems.
Regular maintenance and prevention
Check droppings, appetite, feather condition and breathing each day, and keep the bird away from non-stick cookware fumes, aerosols, smoke and strongly scented household products, to which parrots are highly sensitive. Clean food and water dishes daily, and maintain humidity around 50 to 70 percent where practical, reflecting this rainforest species' natural environment.
Behaviour and compatibility
Complex vocal mimicry, intricate foraging and strong routine preference
- With children
- Better suited to adult households; a powerful beak can injure
- With other animals
- Supervise at all times
- Training difficulty
- Moderate — highly trainable but easily frustrated
Health
- Feather-damaging behaviour
- Hypocalcaemia
- Aspergillosis
- Psittacine beak and feather disease
- Atherosclerosis
Requires an experienced avian vet and regular bloodwork
Special care requirements
Plan for a bird that may outlive you and name a guardian in your will
Lifelong commitment and cognitive enrichment
African greys are exceptionally intelligent and can live forty to sixty years, so acquiring one is a lifelong, potentially multi-generational commitment; name a guardian for the bird in your will and plan who will provide its care, enrichment and company if your own circumstances change.
Boredom and insufficient mental stimulation are strongly linked to feather-damaging behaviour in this species. Provide daily foraging challenges, out-of-cage flight time and varied interaction rather than a single repetitive routine, and seek an experienced avian vet promptly for any new feather plucking, lethargy or change in droppings.
Before you take one on
Sources and further guidance
These welfare and veterinary resources inform general husbandry advice; they do not certify this profile or replace a species-experienced professional. Confirm exact environmental settings and feeding plans for your animal.
Can your home meet african grey parrot needs?
- Plan for a lifespan of 40–60 years, including holiday cover and, where one is available, a vet familiar with this species. Lifespan ranges are not guarantees.
- Arrange the social setting before arrival. Social guidance for this species: Very high; a lonely grey deteriorates quickly. Do not assume another animal of any species is a suitable companion.
- Habitat priority for this species: A social area of the home, not an isolated room. Make sure your setup can provide this consistently. Check the room stays within the listed temperature range with a thermometer rather than judging by feel.
- Key care point: Plan for a bird that may outlive you and name a guardian in your will. Discuss diet and any specialist needs with the supplier, rescue and a vet who treats this species, and check local legal requirements before acquiring an animal.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.