| Grey Parrot |
Grey Parrot
Česky |
Francais |
| Psittacus Linné – parrot |
African gray parrots are noted for their ability to mimic speech and are heavily prized in the pet trade. In captivity, they are playful and inquisitive if given lots of attention and exercise. They will live over 50 years in captivity, but their life expectancy is shorter in the wild. They are strong fliers for short distances but lack the endurance for longer flights.
Habitat: Tropical west Africa, Guinea east through Uganda, south to southern-central Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire). Lowland tropical and subtropical forests and woodlands.
Length: 13 inches.
Migrant: Non-migrant.
Nest: An unlined hole in a tree. The female lays up to 4 eggs and incubates them for a month. After hatching, the female cares for the young until they leave the nest after two and a half months. However, the young will stay with the parents for four or five months. They usually pair for life and reinforce this bond with mutual feeding and cleaning.
Notes: Gray parrots have a hinged-hooked
beak which aids in cracking nuts and seeds and is used as a third foot
when climbing. They are noisy birds that live and feed in small areas.
They roost in large flocks but spend most of their time in groups of 20-30
birds. They eat fruits, berries, nuts and seeds and test food with their
tongue, discarding anything not to their taste. They usually pair for life
and reinforce this bond with mutual feeding and cleaning.