At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The grey parrot (African grey) is a highly intelligent parrot renowned for its ability to mimic speech. It is assessed as Endangered.
Wild populations have been heavily reduced by capture for the pet trade.
Range & habitat
Rainforests of central and western Africa.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Trapping for the international pet trade
- Habitat loss
Why it matters
One of the most popular pet birds in the world, the grey parrot shows how demand for wild-caught pets can drive a common, intelligent species toward decline.
Heavily affected by the cage-bird trade.
Sources
Sources for Grey Parrot
- IUCN Red List — look up Grey Parrot (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are grey parrots Endangered?
Published assessments cite intense trapping for the international pet trade together with habitat loss. Huge numbers have been removed from the wild. See the IUCN Red List.
Are grey parrots really that intelligent?
They are famous for advanced mimicry and problem-solving, and some have been studied for apparent understanding of words and concepts — part of why they are so sought after as pets.
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