Animal Riddle Answer:

Common name: African Grey Parrot
Scientific name: Psittacus erithacus timneh

The African Grey Parrot is a medium-sized parrot endemic to the western parts of the moist Upper Guinea forests and bordering savannas of Western Africa.

One of the bird’s defense mechanisms is fluffing up to look larger. Experts regard it as one of the most intelligent animals. Its overall gentle nature and inclination and ability to mimic speech have made it a popular pet.

The African Grey Parrot depends on large old trees for the natural hollows it uses for nesting. It is a monogamous bird, nesting solitarily in a tree with a hole for the eggs. It feeds primarily on palm nuts, seeds, fruits, leafy matter, and have even been observed eating snails.

The parrot plays an important role in the forest ecosystem by helping to propagate trees and other plants. Because not all of the seeds consumed are digested, many are passed in the bird's guano over new areas of the forest. Some parrots eat nectar and are important for the pollination of many species of plants in the tropical forests.

African Grey Parrots are talented talking birds. Unlike other parrots, wild African Greys have been documented imitating the calls of several other species. They have been tested using rigorous scientific standards and are classed alongside the most intelligent animal species. Dr. Irene Pepperberg’s extensive research with captive African Greys, famously with a bird named Alex, has demonstrated that they possess the ability to associate human words with meanings and to intelligently apply the abstract concepts of shape, color, number, zero-sense and same-different. Alex could even communicate preferences to modify his environment.

According to Pepperberg and others, they perform many cognitive tasks at the level of dolphins, chimpanzees, and even human toddlers.

Wild African Grey Parrots frequently whistle, shriek, squeak, click,etc. The African Greys living with humans give regular renditions of the microwave, telephone, alarm clocks, dripping water, wild birds, video games, and any other electronic sound that is often heard by the parrot. They have an uncanny ability to not only reiterate words but to imitate the speaker and mock the manner in which the words were spoken.

Come to HSC and have a chat with Galileo, our new African Grey Parrot in the lobby. You’ll find him in his cage near the cash register, unless he’s out and about getting exercise!

Back to Animals