The african grey parrot is one of the most commonly kept large parrots in homes throughout the world. They may lack the brilliant coloring of their macaw cousins, but they more than make up for it with their staggering verbal abilities. This makes them a very popular species.
The average african grey’s extensive vocabulary demonstrates the intensity of their intelligence. They are known to give appropriate verbal responses in unrehearsed situations without coaching. Many owners claim to “converse” with their african greys.
However, perhaps an unfortunate side effect to their intelligence, they are known to be excessively fearful and phobic. This hyper-sensitivity to handling and their environment is often demonstrated with fear based behaviors, such as unwillingness to interact and biting.
Tragically, the unhappy grey eventually gets around to feather plucking. In fact, in captivity, the ratio of unplucked to plucked african greys is about 3:1 – a remarkably high percentage.