African grey parrot and Amazon Parrot: Observe bird behavior As an avid poultry farmer, I am extremely interested in the differences between species of the Psittacidae family. I have worked with parrots from the Amazon and African grey parrots, both from Timneh and Congos.
By taking an in-depth look at the behavior of these two types of birds, I developed many ideas about what can actually happen inside these bird brains – not only how they behave and why, but also how their behavior fits into everyday life in a captive environment and what we can do as owners to make life a little better for everyone.
Which parrot should I have as a pet?
There are many things that go into deciding what type of bird is the right companion for you, but you need to know the facts in order to make an informed decision! Here are some of the main differences between two of the most popular bird breeds, the African grey parrots and the Amazonian parrots.
African grey parrots of Congo
African grey parrots are extremely intelligent. In fact, they may simply be the most intelligent and linguistically capable of all parrots.
Greys are known not to be particularly fond of small children. With the exception of keas, parrots are animals of prey, and children often move too fast and fast for a gray to feel completely safe.
Research on African greys
Dr. Irene Pepperberg has already demonstrated with several Congo African grey parrots that greys are able to add and subtract, differentiate colors and shapes, and hold coherent “conversations”. They have intelligence and brain power equivalent to that of a child of at least four years old.
I hope to prove one day, through my research, that during their 60 years (or more) of life, they are able to fully read and understand the human emotions, concepts, and abilities thought to be reserved for the largest cerebral mammals.
My African Grey: Louise Bird
My African Grey, Louise, has a beautiful light grey body with a short scarlet tail as well as a striking black beak and scaly black feet. She is a shining example of parrot intelligence. She is extremely talkative, has a sense of humor, and learns new words and songs after hearing them only a few times. She amazes me every day with the number of things she says and repeats, but also that she really understands.
Louise Bird speaks Our 2-year-old feathered genius
She sings, learns names, and has a favorite color
She makes up beautiful songs and apologizes when she does something we don’t approve of, like opening the bag of Nutriberries or trying to make a nest under the dresser. Louise quickly learns many different concepts. It has a favorite color, red, and it is able to tell the difference between many different foods, such as apples, berries, grapes, nuts, and pellets. She calls us in the bird room by name, including cats. She also knows the names of other birds.
She prefers certain types of music to others and enjoys playing with toys that turn on, moves, or make noise. She presses the button 5 or 6 times in a row on her Leap Frog piano and dances. None of this is technical research because I haven’t set up a real experiment, but for me, it’s proof that there’s more going on in his head than we thought.
Awesome Amazons
Pedro, a Mexican red-headed Amazon that I promoted, is a perfect example of a typical Amazonian parrot. He was barely 25 years old when he came to us and was full of life, noise, and attitude.
Amazons have beautiful colors
Unlike African grays, Amazons have a wide variety of colors. The most common breeds kept as pets are the Yellow-Headed, Double Yellow-Headed, Yellow Nape, and Blue-Fronted, although there are even more. Pedro was incredibly handsome, with a deep green color on his body and a head with bright red and purple colors. Under his wings were pretty colored feathers of bright hues of purple, yellow, red, and blue, but only when he wanted to show them.
They’re big mouths!
One of the most unfortunate aspects of the Amazon is that they tend to be much noisier than African grays. Amazons communicate through loud vocalizations and rapid eye movements. The way a particular bird’s eyes expand, or pinch, can tell you a lot about its mood and tell you whether to go ahead and give it a scratch or go back and save yourself from a nasty bite. Amazon’s beaks are capable of crushing the shells of some of the hardest nuts on the planet, so imagine what could happen to a human hand!
Amazons are also known for their wonderful singing skills, and some may even give Louise a hard time when it comes to talking. Pedro loved to yell and imitate car alarms, dogs barking and children laughing. Pedro ended up moving into a family home for a single bird, where he is now much more comfortable. Of course, he always preferred to be the star of the show.
Reasons to love them both
Both parrots belong to the Psittacine family. Both species have the ability to be extremely affectionate. (Of course, as with any other animal, they also have the ability to be complete).
Both birds enjoy specific foods and toys. They may also have other specific preferences, such as songs, positions in the house, and people. Louise is often hanging upside down from her cage. Most of the Amazons I’ve worked with prefer to always be in the place, although each bird has a unique and distinct personality.
Greys tend to be more affectionate, while Amazons tend to be goofy clowns with an amazing ability to mimic and reproduce almost any noise. The Amazons are known to be charming singers, but my Grey also has a hell of a vibrato! Both the Amazon and the African Grey can make wonderful pets in the right home with the right herd.
Are parrots domesticated?
In the case of most bird species, they cannot be called domestic animals as with other common domestic animals. Domestication takes place over several generations and takes hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Most large parrots, such as cockatoos, greys, macaws, and Eclectus parrots, are removed from the wild in only a few generations, or even captured in the wild. This means that, unlike dogs, they would be completely able to readapt to their natural environment quickly after being reintroduced into it.
However, this does not mean that a pet parrot can be released outside anywhere. Not only is it illegal in most parts of the country, but many parts of North America do not have the proper climate to allow these tropical birds to acclimatize properly. Not to mention that hawks, cats, and other predators would surely make a quick meal of an inexperienced parrot!
Nevertheless, some escaped domestic parrots can survive for days or even weeks in an acceptable wilderness environment. This is mainly due to the fact that they are extremely intelligent, quick-minded and flexible.
Only you can decide which bird is best for your flock
I have an obvious bias for the Congo African Grey, but only you can decide which bird will best fit your home and lifestyle.
- African Grey is extremely intelligent and capable of learning all sorts of amazing things. However, they can also be very nervous and are prone to heart problems and epileptic seizures, especially in their old age.
- Amazon parrots can be stubborn but are just as spectacular and witty as Greys. Amazons are prone to obesity and fatty liver disease.
These two birds deserve much more stimulation than hours in a boring cage and shabby seeds in an open bowl. I hope that one day, through my research, determination, and dedication, these incredible animals will not only be treated better, but also with all the amount of love, respect, and admiration they truly deserve.
Amazons vs African Grey Which bird do you prefer?
Questions and Answers
Question: Can an African grey parrot breed with an amazon?
Answer: No, African greys and amazons are different species from 2 very different continents. They cannot reproduce with each other.
Question: How can you know what the sex of my parrot is?
Answer: The only way to be 100% sure is through a blood test. An avian veterinarian can do this for you. Most parrot species are sexually monomorphic, meaning that males and females look almost identical. Sometimes a female lays eggs, but in general, you have to do a DNA/blood test to be sure!
Question: I like calm, affection, and intelligence in a pet. Are there parrots that speak softly? Gentle loving and not biting?
Answer: All birds can and will bite at some point in their lives. However, greys generally make less “bird noise” than other species. They can be very loud, but usually prefer to talk or whistle rather than shout. However, all birds are different and your experience may be different. My two grays are very affectionate, but one prefers me, while the other prefers my boyfriend.
Question: What is the lifespan of the Amazon parrot?
Answer: Up to 60 years of captivity, but with proper feeding, visits to the vet, and plenty of exercises.
Review African grey vs amazon
SOURCE: First Parrot
