African Grey Parrot
Exceptionally intelligent and long-lived — often compared to a young child in cognitive ability. A 50-year commitment that is unsuitable for most households.
Key facts
Lifespan
40–60 years
Grooming
Low
Shedding
Moderate
First-time owners
Experience helps
About the African Grey Parrot
African Greys are perhaps the most accomplished mimics in the bird world and are genuinely capable of using words in context. That intelligence is the problem as much as the appeal: under-stimulated Greys develop feather-plucking, screaming and phobic behaviours that are very hard to reverse. They need hours of daily interaction, complex foraging, and an owner prepared to make provision for the bird outliving them. Wild African Greys are CITES Appendix I listed, so UK sales require proper documentation.
Living with a African Grey Parrot
Very large cage or aviary plus several hours of daily interaction and foraging enrichment. Not a bird to leave alone all day.
- Good with children
- Good with other pets
- Suitable for first-time owners
Health
Conditions this breed is commonly predisposed to. This is general information, not veterinary advice — speak to a vet about any specific animal.
- Feather plucking from boredom, stress or poor diet
- Hypocalcaemia — Greys are particularly prone
- Psittacine beak and feather disease; aspergillosis
- Extreme sensitivity to PTFE fumes
Ask the breeder for
- CITES Article 10 certificate for captive-bred birds — required for sale in the UK
- PBFD and psittacosis testing; closed ring and hatch documentation
Buying a African Grey Parrot
Ask for the Article 10 certificate and the closed leg ring number before buying — selling an African Grey without correct CITES paperwork is illegal. Consider a parrot rescue: many Greys need rehoming precisely because owners underestimated them.
Read the full safe-buying guideAfrican Grey Parrots for sale
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All birds for saleAfrican Grey Parrot FAQs
How long do African Grey Parrots live?
A African Grey Parrot typically lives 40–60 years.
Are African Grey Parrots good for first-time owners?
African Grey Parrots are better suited to owners with previous experience, because of their training, exercise or handling needs.
What health tests should a African Grey Parrot breeder have done?
CITES Article 10 certificate for captive-bred birds — required for sale in the UK. PBFD and psittacosis testing; closed ring and hatch documentation.
Breed information is general guidance compiled by the PetHome team. Every animal is an individual — meet it, and its mother, before you commit. This is not veterinary advice.