African Gray Parrot
The African Grey Parrot is a large parrot of the genus Psittacus, native to Africa. As the name implies, the African Grey Parrot is predominantly grey, with accents of white and red in varying amounts depending on the subspecies. Greys, like all parrots, are zygodactyl, having 4 toes on each foot - two front and two back. They feed primarily on nuts and fruits, supplemented by leafy matter.
While comparative judgements of animal intelligence are always very difficult to make objectively, Psittaciformes are generally regarded as being amongst the most intelligent of birds. African Grey Parrots are particularly noted for their cognitive abilities, which are believed to have evolved as a consequence of their history of cooperative feeding on the ground in central Africa.
Irene Pepperberg's research with captive African Greys including Alex have shown that these parrots are capable of using human words with their human meanings, at least to some extent. Ambitious claims of language use have also been made for another African Grey, called N'kisi; in the eyes of most experts in animal cognition, however, these claims are cast into some doubt by the fact that this bird has also been claimed to exhibit powers of telepathy.
Their intelligence also creates a need for intellectually stimulating toys when African Greys are kept as companion animals.
There are two subspecies:
- Congo African Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus erithacus
- Timneh African Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus timneh
Referenced By
Animal cognition | Comparative psychology
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