Native to the rainforests of central and western Africa, including countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and Cameroon, this medium-sized parrot is famous for its incredible ability to mimic human speech and understand language. With its soft grey feathers, white facial mask, black curved beak, and vibrant red tail, the grey parrot is smart and striking. It’s one of those animals that seems to blur the line between human and bird, thanks to its complex behavior, vocal skills, and social personality.
Grey parrots are best known for their talking ability — and it’s not just mindless mimicry. Many of them can use words in context, recognize voices, and even solve puzzles. Perhaps the most famous grey parrot was Alex, who worked with animal psychologist Dr. Irene Pepperberg. Alex learned over 100 words and could identify colors, shapes, and even express simple thoughts like “I want nut” or “I’m sorry.” His intelligence was similar to that of a 4- or 5-year-old child, and his emotional range wasn’t far off either. Grey parrots like Alex showed the world that birds are far more than just pretty singers — they’re thinkers too.
In the wild, grey parrots live in large, noisy flocks and spend much of their time foraging for fruit, seeds, nuts, and leafy matter. They are very social and communicate with each other through a wide range of whistles, squawks, and clicks. Their strong beaks help them crack open hard nuts, and their zygodactyl feet (two toes forward, two back) are perfect for gripping food and climbing. These birds form tight pair bonds and are known for their loyalty — both in the wild and in captivity.
Distribution
Angola
Benin
Official estimate
Burundi
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Congo-Brazzaville
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Ghana
Kenya
Nigeria
Rwanda
São Tomé & Príncipe
Tanzania
Togo
Official estimate
UgandaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Frugivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
