Timneh African Grey Parrot General Info

There are a lot of obvious reasons why the Timneh African Grey Parrot is one of the best, most loved pet parrots in the world today. Highly intelligent, fun and affectionate, these highly skilled talkers are the jewel of every family and every home. Due to their long lifespan, you will have a lot of time to get to know your pet Timneh properly and fall in love with all the smart talk and goofy tricks. Fun, friendship and good company are guaranteed!

African Grey parrots are the best talkers in the parrot world. Your feathered friend will never stop surprising with its rich and skillfully used vocabulary.

Native Region/Natural Habitat

Mainly centered around a small region in the west of Africa, Timneh African Grey Parrots are found in Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Sierra Leone. For the most part, they inhabit the humid and dense tropical forests and bordering savannahs. Timneh parrots suffered greatly at the hands of illegal poachers and loss of habitat. They are now labeled as an endangered species. Luckily, the laws are tightened, and populations are on the increase again. Also, they can still be found relatively easily as a pet bird.

Overall Description

Generally considered a medium-sized parrot, they can reach an average length of about 13 inches (33 centimeters) as adults and weigh up to 13 ounces (375 grams). This makes them visibly smaller than their closest cousins the African Grey Congo parrots. There’s no easy way to distinguish males from females – they are the same. It’s easy for owners to get mistaken. Years can pass until suddenly, their male pet lays some eggs!

Speech and Sounds

One thing is sure – nothing makes these parrots so popular as their ability to talk and mimic with unrivaled realism. They can develop an incredible vocabulary of up to 200 words, and they can mimic almost any sound or voice they hear in a crystal clear tone, and in exactly the same way. This can be a source of a lot of fun. From contextual sentences all the way to ringing phones, barking dogs or family members, your Timneh African Grey Parrot will surprise you every day. As a plus, they are not noisy in any other way – they are simply good at talking.

Colors

Although quite similar to the closely related Congo African Grey, Timneh African Grey Parrot is much darker in color. The body is almost entirely dark grey, with lighter gradients on the bottom, around the eyes and on the legs. A distinct feature is their tail which is colored in a unique dark red. The upper beak is the color of a horn, which is another feature unique to these parrots.

Although simple in color, these parrots still have a graceful and intriguing look.

Care and Feeding

Most commercial mixes for parrots will be a great basic diet. They are seed or pellets based and include all the necessary goodies. To offer them some extra vitamins and proteins be sure to add some fresh green vegetables or fruits. As an important source of calcium make sure to provide a cuttlebone for your pet.

Another vital part of their care is regular bathing. You can either provide large bathing dishes or more conveniently – take them to the shower with you. It will be obvious how much they love to bathe.

Health and Common Conditions

These parrots have an excellent reputation for being stout, healthy and easy to adapt. Once you take good care of their basic needs like hygiene, regular vet check-ups and a good amount of exercise and free movement, they will have no troubles at all to lead a happy and fulfilled life. Keep all early symptoms in check, like apathy, lack of appetite or any other alarming signs.

Timneh African Grey Parrot is known for good health. With enough care and good hygiene, sickness won’t be a problem.

Personality & Behavior

Timneh African Greys can be loved companion parrots, especially with their loving, fun personalities and with their amazing lifespan from 50 and up to 70 years! And, as you will find out, there is so much to love about them. Their antics, mimics and chatty nature, as well as all the goofs and silly tricks they can play on you. Simply put, they are a well of fun, and once a bond is established, they can be quite affectionate and cuddly as well. With such a pet, you will undoubtedly form a lasting and cherished friendship. Photo credit: Yakov Oskanov/Shutterstock; Lindsey Eltinge/Shutterstock; Jill Lang/Shutterstock