Psittacus erithacus

The African Gray Parrot is a medium-sized parrot of the genus Psittacus, native to Africa and is considered to be one of the most intelligent birds. As the name implies, they are predominantly gray with accents of white. They have red or maroon tails depending on the subspecies. They feed primarily on nuts and fruits, supplemented by leafy matter.

The African Gray Parrot has been called "the perfect mix of brains and beauty". While many parrots learn some words or phrases, many cases have been documented of African Grays learning multiple lines of songs, prayers, or plays.

Grays are not limited to imitating speech. Phones, microwaves ovens, answering machines, other birds and chain saws (in the African jungle) have all been documented as part of the Gray's repertoire.

There are two subspecies:

• Congo African Gray parrot , Psittacus erithacus erithacus - these are larger birds (about 12 inches/30cm long) with light gray feathers, cherry red tails and black beaks. A Congo is often called a "CAG".
• Timneh African Gray parrot , Psittacus erithacus timneh - these are smaller in size, have a darker charcoal gray coloring, a darker maroon tail, and a light, horn colored upper mandible. A Timneh is often called a "TAG".

The gray show in this picture is a Congo African Gray.

African Gray parrots, like most pet parrots, are very high-maintenance pets, as they require a great deal of personal attention. Three hours out of cage daily and 45 minutes of physical interaction is the minimum attention required for good mental health. African Grays – particularly Congo African Grays – are known to be shy around strangers, and tend to bond solely with their main caretaker if they do not interact with different people regularly. While inter-species friendships with other parrots are uncommon with African Grays, they require socialization with other parrots of any species.

Aan African Gray spending most of its day inside the cage will require a larger cage, while an African Gray who spends most of its time on a playstand, using the cage only for sleeping needs a cage large enough so that the bird has sufficient space inside to without touching the cage's sides, top, or bottom. The height of a cage is typically not important, except in the case of playtop cages that are taller than the owner, which may cause the bird to become territorial. The bar-spacing should from be ¾ inch to 1 inch.

African Grays require plenty of stimulating toys to keep them from becoming bored while confined to their cage. These toys should be rotated and switched out regularly so as to maintain the bird's interest. An African Gray should be kept in a bird-safe environment and placed in a busy part of the home, such as the living room, where the bird can occupy him- or herself in watching the household activities.

African Grays have special dietary requirements and should be fed plenty of calcium- and Vitamin A-rich foods, such as almonds, small amounts of cheese, or leafy greens like mustard greens, broccoli, etc. It is usual to give African gray parrots carefully calculated quantities of calcium and vitamin supplements. An excess of these added vitamins and minerals in an African Gray’s diet can lead to health problems.

In order to prevent free flight which could lead to loss or possible injury, only a few feathers need to be clipped from the wings of an African Gray, since they are heavy birds. Clipping too many feathers can severely impair flight and may lead to injuries as they crash to the ground. If very young birds are wing clipped, they may never gain full coordination and agility in flight. Feather clipping should never be attempted by those inexperienced at it, as serious injury could result.

An African Gray parrot lifespan may be 50 years or more in captivity.