African Grey Congo and Timneh

There are two different species of African Grey Parrot.

The smaller Timneh (Psittacus erithacus timneh) Vital Statistics Body length: Approx. 12 inches Body weight: 235-275 grams Life span: 30-40 years

The larger Congo (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) Vital Statistics Body length: 12-14 inches Body weight: 300-500 grams Life span: 30-40 years

Appearance:

Quite ordinary in their appearance, the African Grey can best be described as a uniformed grey colour over most of the body shading slightly paler below the chest. The head is pale grey with white skin patches around the eyes and the feet are grey.

Differences in appearance -

Timneh: The Timneh's tail feathers are darker (maroon), and overall the Timneh usually has slightly darker coloration than the Congo, especially over the back (although not always the case). The Timneh's upper mandible is bone coloured with a dark edge, while the lower mandible is grey.

Congo: The Congo African grey is slightly larger than the Timneh and the Congo is slightly lighter coloured and has bright red tail feathers. The Congo's beak is grey.

Personality:

There is some debate over whether there are significant differences in temperament between Congo's and Timneh's. Some say the Timneh's are slightly more laid back and less prone to feather picking and other neurotic behaviour. The African Grey Parrot is probably the most well known of all parrots for its' ability to mimic, both sounds and human speech. They are highly intelligent creatures that thrive on stimulation, through play and human interaction. They are very bright pets with the intelligence level of a five-year-old child. But beware, because they also have the emotions of a 2 year old.

If you think that elephants have got long-term memories, they are total novices compared to this bird. They will charm you with their loving natures and their desire to play. It is important to include your African Grey into as many activities as is possible; they especially enjoy helping you with your evening meal! They are demanding in the sense that they desire and seek out your attention, this is not a bird you leave in its' cage all the time.

They are known for their good temperaments and are less cranky than some of their larger cousins. But one point to bear in mind is that Greys can bond strongly to one person.

This not a pet that should be bought for children. Children's fast movements and noise can scare the parrot. It also wise to remember that even though it is rare of a well looked after hand reared bird to bite, all parrots have the capability to bite and a Greys bite could do a lot of damage to a child's finger. (small children and a Grey out of its cage should never be left alone together.)

Age at maturity 3-4 years

Origin:

Central belt of Africa; southeast Ivory Coast east to western Kenya and south to northern Angola, southern Congo and northwest Tanzania.

Talking Ability:

Congo's and Timneh's have the same talking ability. Frequently touted as the best talking parrot in captivity, the African Grey is indeed an incredible talker. They can learn literally hundreds of words

Noise Level: Moderate

Cage Size: - African Greys (Timneh and Congo)

Min. dimensions: 30"x24"x24".

Bar spacing: 3/4" to 1"