Find out how long African Grey Parrots can be your feathered
The African Grey Parrot, renowned for its remarkable intelligence and talking ablity, captivates bird enthusiasts and researchers worldwide.
Another aspect of particular interest is its lifespan, which holds significance for those who share their lives with these feathered companions.
African grey parrots have a lifespan of 25 to 27 years in the wild but live between 30 and 40 years in captivity and can reach 60 in fewer cases. The oldest African grey on record was a 55-year-old bird called Tarbu, but there are some longer-lived AGs off record.
Greys parrots, kept as domestic pets at home, get better care, and are exposed to fewer predators, hence the longer lifespan. They get a more balanced diet and have access to an avian veterinarian.
An African grey parrot can be divided into 5 stages:
- Early development (12 to 14 weeks)
- Juvenile (3 months to 2 years)
- Adolescence (Sexual maturity) (2 to 5 years)
- Adulthood (5 to 50 years)
- Aging (50+ years)
Read on to learn all about the lifespan of one of the world’s most remarkable birds.
African Grey Parrot Life Cycle
African greys have a long lifespan characterized by gradual changes and development stages. If you get the bird as a newly hatched chick, you will experience most of this, which (in all honesty) is fun and engaging.
An African grey life cycle can be divided into 5 stages:
- Early Development
Early development begins when an African grey is hatched up to when it is weaned, typically lasting 12 to 14 weeks. In this stage, the AG chick is hand-fed formula.
At 12 weeks, your African grey should start to wean from formula to solid food. However, individual differences exist, so continue offering your bird formula for several months after the initial weaning for its well-being.
- Juvenile:
After weaning, the chicks become juveniles. They start to explore their surroundings, develop their motor skills, and learn social behaviors. Ends at the onset of sexual maturity, which begins at 2 years.
African grey start talking during this stage, and most can attain their full talking ability within 2 years. The birds will continue to learn new words beyond this period, but they will have acquired the ultimate speech clarity and annunciation.
The bird will also start flying during this stage. The eye color remains dark grey to black when AGs are juveniles.
- Adolescence
African grey parrots typically reach sexual maturity between 2 and 5 years old, which means the parrot can breed and reproduce.
Sexual maturity in African grey parrots is also preceded by a puberty period, marked by physical, behavioral, and social changes associated with sexual maturity.
These changes include subtle alterations in plumage coloration, increased hormonal activity, heightened vocalization and courtship behaviors, and territoriality.
Female AGs in this stage can lay eggs, usually one to two times a year.
- Adulthood
This part of an AG’s life cycle is the longest. It begins when a bird develops its adult personality to old age, characterized by gradual physical and cognitive decline.
- Aging
As African grey parrots enter late adulthood, typically after 30. They’ll experience noticeable signs of aging. This can include decreased energy levels, changes in sleep patterns, reduced appetite, and minor health issues such as arthritis or cataracts.
Cognitive decline may also become evident in some older African grey parrots, leading to decreased problem-solving abilities or memory loss.
Why Do African Grey Parrots Live So Long
African grey parrots live long in captivity because they get better care at home than in the wild. The birds typically eat a more balanced diet, which includes pellets deliberately formulated to suit the AG’s development needs.
Protection from owners and the safety of a house also plays into the lengthy AG lifespan. As domestic pets, the birds do not have to contend with predators and unkind weather in the African wild.
And if the birds get into an accident or fall sick, they have access to experienced avian veterinarians.
However, African greys are no longer lived than other medium-sized birds. 30 to 40 years is typical for pet birds that size, like Cockatoos and Mini-Macaws.
At What Age Do African Grey Parrots Start Talking
Generally, African grey parrots begin to mimic sounds and words at 6 months to 1 year old. However, some may start earlier, 3 to 4 months after they are hatched.
Early exposure to a rich social environment, regular training, and a strong bond with caregivers can accelerate their ability to mimic speech.
Your bird’s genetics also play a part in their speech capabilities.
To encourage your African Grey parrot to talk, start training them early. Use positive reinforcement, repeat words regularly, and associate words with actions.
Be patient and create a quiet environment for training, practice regularly, speak clearly, and seek professional help if needed.
How Long Do African Grey Parrot Take to Reach Maturity
African Grey parrots typically reach maturity between 2 and 5 years old, although individual birds may vary.
Signs of maturity in African Grey parrots include physical changes such as reaching their full adult size, behavioral changes such as increased independence or territoriality, and hormonal changes that may result in nesting behaviors.
Nesting behavior includes exploring dark spaces or chewing on materials to create a nest.
How Old is The Oldest African Grey Parrot
Tarbu, gained recognition as one of the oldest recorded African grey parrot, living to the impressive age of 55. Tarbu was owned by Nina Morgan Jones and resided in England for most of his life.
However, there are older African greys off record, considering the oldest parrot (of any species) on record was a Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo named Cookie, who lived to be at least 83 years old, a species with an equal average lifespan to an African grey.
A Majority of living African grey parrots, from a quick survey from several owners, are between 2 and 30 years old. 15 to 25 is the average age for most living AGs, and the oldest are in their late 30’s and early 40’s.
Which Parrots Have A Longer Lifespan Than African Grey
The longest-living parrot species in the world is the Hyacinth Macaw.
The parrots as home pets (captivity), they can live up to 50 years or more with proper care and attention. However, in the wild, their lifespan is typically shorter due to various environmental factors and threats.
Comparing this to the African Grey Parrot, the Hyacinth Macaw generally has a longer lifespan. African Greys typically live for around 30 to 50 years (as captive birds), with some individuals living longer.
African grey parrots and most medium-sized to large parrots like cockatoos, mini-macaws, and Amazon parrots have equal lifespans.
That’s all for this post.
Happy Birding🦜🐦🦉.