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Behaviour and ecology

Wild bird behaviours

Little is known about the behaviours and activities of these birds in the wild. In addition to a lack of research funding, it can be particularly difficult to study these birds in wild situations due to their status as prey animals, which leads them to have rather secretive personalities. Nevertheless, it has been shown that wild greys may also imitate a wide variety of the sounds they hear, much like their captive relatives. Two greys were recorded while roosting in Zaire and researchers reported that they had a repertoire of over 200 different sounds, including nine imitations of other wild bird songs and one of a bat.

Diet

A pet grey parrot eating a cucumber slice

They are mostly frugivorous, most of their diet consists of fruit, nuts, and seeds. The species prefers oil palm fruit and they eat flowers and tree bark, as well as insects and snails. In the wild, the grey parrot is partly a ground feeder. In captivity, they may be fed bird pellets, a variety of fruits such as pear, orange, pomegranate, apple, and banana, and vegetables such as carrot, cooked sweet potato, celery, fresh kale, peas, and green beans. They also need a source of calcium.

Breeding

Two eggs and a newly hatched chick

One-day old chick

Grey parrots are monogamous breeders who nest in tree cavities. Each mated pair of parrots needs their own tree for their nest. The hen lays three to five eggs, which she incubates for 30 days while being fed by her mate. The adults defend their nesting sites. Both parents help take care of the chicks until they can go off on their own.

Grey parrot chicks require feeding and care from their parents in the nest. The parents take care of them until 4-5 weeks after they are fledged. Young leave the nest at the age of 12 weeks. Little is known about the courtship behavior of this species in the wild. They weigh 12–14 g (0.42–0.49 oz) at hatching and 372–526 g (13.1–18.6 oz) when they leave their parents.

Health

Psittacine beak and feather disease or PBFD has been recognized as one of the most common and deadliest diseases that affect both Old and New World birds belonging to the Psittacidae family. The disease is caused by a virus known as the Circovirus. In 1975, veterinary practitioner Dr Ross Perry conducted in depth research on the psittacine beak and feather disease and is credited as its founder. Both wild and captive birds are susceptible to PFBD, which can lead to a highly suppressed immune system and deformed beak and feather structures. Young African Greys are more commonly infected by the avian disease than adults and will express symptoms such as loss of appetite, fluffy feathers, sluggishness, and reduced walking abilities due to brittle bones.