All About Parrots

Intelligent and Friendly Pet Parrot Species
Lovebirds:

Common Names: Timneh African Grey, Red Tails, TAG
Scientific Name: Psittacus erithacus timneh
Origin: Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Southern Mali,
Relative Size: 11 inches
Weight: 350 grams
Average Lifespan: 30-50 years
Egg Clutch: 3-5 eggs, typical clutch is 3 eggs
Incubation: 28 days


Timneh African Greys in the Wild
Timneh African Greys are originally from the rain forests of Western Africa. These birds thrive in large colonies and are very shy creatures. Unlike South American parrots, these birds do not like to flock with other bird species. Instead, they spend their time mainly with other African Greys foraging for food and eating tender roots and shoots. They are most often spotted at waterholes consuming clay. It is believed that by eating clay, it removes any toxins ingested while in their natural habitat and also provides the birds with minerals.

Because these parrots are popular, these birds are trapped and sold for the pet trade. A trapper who wishes to capture a Timneh African Grey will usually place glue onto twigs and wait for the birds to land. Another method of trapping these birds consists of using nets. These nets are strategically placed to capture the birds as they forage for food along the ground. Once the birds are trapped, they are put into wooden crates and shipped around the world. Most trappers do not put too much effort into ensuring the parrots are properly cared for as they are only seen as a product. For this reason, many die or are badly injured during transportation to other localities.

When breeding in the wild, these birds will pair off and look for a nesting site that is hidden from obvious predators. Usually old trees are preferred as the wood can easily be gnawed by the female and the nest can be constructed to her liking. The female will incubate the eggs while the male stands guard. Both the male and female will feed the babies until the baby birds leave the nest and are weaned. It is believed the juvenile birds will remain with their parents for at least a year before they are left to fend for themselves.

Timneh African Greys in Captivity
African Greys have been kept in captivity for hundreds of years. Though we will never know which was more popular between the two Grey species historically, one thing remains apparent, these birds have been documented all the way back to Alexander the Great and appear to have been as popular then as they are today. In fact, these birds were kept by many prominent historical figures such as King Henry VIII, Queen Victoria, and Marie Antoinette.

In the United States, these parrots are abundant and easy to find. If a person is looking to buy a Timneh African Grey, they can begin by searching within their local bird clubs, bird conventions/shows, or through local classified newspaper ads. These birds are not as expensive as 
their larger cousin and can be readily purchased as handfed parrots.

Timneh African Greys as Pets
Timneh African Greys are wonderful parrots to own. They are smart pets that are often described as being unique in terms of companionship. They form strong bonds with their owners and thrive for attention if handfed and well socialized. These birds do not tolerate being left alone for long periods of time and will become mentally challenged if ignored. If an owner wishes to purchase a Timneh African Grey, they should be prepared to incorporate the bird into their daily lives. If an owner only minimally interacts with their bird, this could be extremely detrimental to the parrot as they need a lot of attention.

Like the Congo African Grey, these birds are smart and are deemed as supreme talking parrots. They seem to say the right things at the right time and many owners claim their birds know what they say. Some birds start talking around five months but most will start around eight months. Just before the bird actually talks, they go through a babbling stage. During this time, the bird owner should be encouraging the bird to talk and the owner should praise the bird for whistles, anything that sounds like talking, and/or gibberish.

Timneh African Greys begin talking sooner than the Congo African Grey. Most will pick up a few words between five and six months of age. Over a year’s time, a parrot’s vocabulary can grow to hundreds of words.

It is important the owner not purchase a bird based solely on the parrot’s talking possibilities because not all African Greys will learn to talk. Some African Greys just never learn to mimic humans and this often leads to disappointment by the owner. When this happens, the bird is usually ignored. The bird should be picked for its personality and cherished as a pet. If the bird happens to talk, then this should be viewed as an extra perk.

Timneh African Grey parrots can be loud but not as loud as their cousins the Conures or the Amazons. Some owners can even get away with owning a Timneh African Grey in an apartment setting. These birds should be expected to vocalize during the early morning, noon, and before sunset.

Many owners are often misled as baby Timneh African Greys are quiet at first. As the bird matures it becomes much more vocal and many owners can find this to be irritating. These contact calls are natural to the bird but can be minimized. At times, some birds go on to become excessive screamers and it’s up to the owner to work towards decreasing this type of vocalization.

Talking Ability: Superior
The Timneh African Grey looks very similar to the Congo African Grey. Many people who are new to parrots find it difficult to differentiate between the two species as they look very similar. The more obvious difference between the two parrots is that Timneh Greys are smaller and darker in appearance and also have a smaller black beak with a beige patch located on the upper portion.

Like their larger cousins the Congo African Grey, these parrots also have white eye patches that surround their eyes. Their eye pupils are yellow and black giving these birds a striking appearance. Their wings lack color but showcase many shades of charcoal gray and black. When in flight, lighter shades of gray and white can be seen giving these birds an angelic look. Their feet are large and bulky compared to their bodies and are always tucked back underneath their bodies when in flight.

These birds are not sexually dimorphic. This simply means the males and females cannot visually be differentiated. If an owner or breeder wishes to know the sex of their parrot, the best way is through DNA testing. This is achieved without surgery as only a few feathers are needed from the bird to determine the bird’s gender.

Unlike most parrots, these pigeon-sized birds do not come in many colors. In fact, some Timnehs might have an occasional red feather on their chest area or on their thigh. Although not as colorful as other parrots, these birds are still sold at a normal price. Not much effort has been placed into developing mutations for these particular birds; however, this could be due to the fact that most sought after are their larger cousins.

Handling a Timneh African Grey
In general these birds do not enjoy heavy petting and are very similar to Asiatic parrots. They would much rather interact with their owners only by being carried on a finger or a shoulder without too much touching. Although it is generally thought that these types of birds don’t enjoy much petting, there are some birds that have been well socialized and do enjoy human contact. In this instance, it’s good to pet and touch the parrot as they like this type of affection. It is important the owner understand every bird is different and has its own personality—some are more affectionate than others. The best time these birds enjoy extensive petting is usually before bedtime or early morning.

Feather Picking
It is a well-known fact that Congo African Greys are prone to picking their feathers if neglected. Timneh African Greys, on the other hand, seem to be much more resilient in this regard and many owners almost never have to deal with this problem as these birds can be a bit more independent.

Though we will never know why these birds do not pick their feathers as readily as their larger cousins, there is one major theory as to why the Timneh is less prone to this problem. The major theory is based on the notion that Timnehs are required to be independent sooner than their Congo cousins. For this reason, they are better suited to accept change and are perfectly fine being much more independent. It is believed Congo Grey parents will remain with their offspring for at least a year, while the Timneh remains with their parents for only about six months before being independent.

If a Timneh African grey should pick its feathers it needs to be seen by a veterinarian. An avian veterinarian will do extensive blood work and rule out any bacterial infections, metal poisoning, or parasitic infections. If the bird returns with a clean bill of health, an avian behavioral consultant should be called to help remedy the problem if the problem persists.

Breeding Timneh African Greys
Timneh African Greys are not too difficult to breed. Most will breed readily if they are given the proper amount of privacy and time. These birds tend to nest during the winter and prefer to nest when it’s cooler. Probably the only difficult part about breeding Timneh African Greys is finding a pair that is compatible. Most Timnehs are sexually mature around four years of age and this would be a great time to introduce a pair for breeding. The best breeders are those parrots who have been raised by their parents or Timnehs that are not too tame.

Some African grey breeders will allow their parrots to remain in large flights until they have paired. Once they have bonded, the breeders will separate them into breeding compartments as this increases their chances for successful breeding. Many Timneh African Greys will produce two clutches of babies per year if given the chance.

A Timneh African Grey nesting cage should be suspended from the ground as this provides added security. The cage should be about 3 feet wide, 4 feet in height, and at least 4 feet in length. A stable perch should be used as this ensures a successful mating encounter. Timneh African Greys prefer deep nests. For this reason, a boot shaped nesting box should be used as the female will most likely nest as far she can inside the box. Wood shaving should be placed on the bottom for padding as the female will not add any nesting material to her nest.

It is important the owner do not disturb the birds as Timneh African Greys will abandon their nests if they feel threatened in any way. A good sign the female has laid eggs is when she remains inside her box throughout the day and only emerges to feed or to go to the bathroom. When this behavior is observed, the owner can expect the eggs to hatch within 28 days.

A typical clutch of eggs is three; however, some female African Greys may produce up to five white eggs. The female will usually start sitting once the second egg has been laid.

Once the food consumption starts to increase this is usually a great indicator the babies have hatched. The owner should then peek inside the box when the mother leaves the nest to feed and such. Most owners will keep the babies with their parents for at least 15 to 20 days before the babies are removed for hand feeding. All the babies need to be removed at the same time as the mother will abandon her nest if the babies are selectively removed.

Once the babies have been removed from their mother and the hand feeding has begun, this process can expect to take about three months. The babies will need to be fed continually until they are weaned and have learned to fly. The person hand feeding will also need to put a great deal of effort into socializing the parrot to ensure that the bird will make a wonderful pet once sent to another owner.

Selecting a Cage for your Timneh African Grey
Timneh African Greys are moderately sized compared to most parrots, but they do require larger cages. These parrots exert a great deal of energy when playing, eating, preening, and bathing. If the right cage is selected from the beginning it might be able to last the parrot throughout its life.

The cage should be as large as the owner can afford and should not be smaller than 3 feet in width, 4 feet in length, and 5 feet in height. This seems to be adequate and provides enough room to house the parrot without making it feeling too confined.

A great cage is one that has been powder coated and has a smooth surface finish. This makes cleaning the cage a simple task. These parrots are quite messy and a wet cloth is all that is needed to effectively remove food from the bars and bowls.

The bars of the cage should be sturdy and not be spaced too far apart as the parrot can easily get its head caught between them. Most pet shops will have their cages shelved according to the size made for the parrot. If the owner feels doubtful, a pet shop owner will be able to assist them and determine if the cage is sufficient for their Timneh.

The bottom of the cage needs to have a grill installed. This grill is important because the bird will be separated from its droppings, spilt food, or soiled paper. Obtaining a cage with a slide-out tray should be a feature of the cage as this makes for easy removal of unwanted material that has dropped and makes for easy daily cleaning.

The cage needs perches made of hardwood, ceramic bowls, and sturdy toys. All these items need to be suspended inside the cage. It is important toys are never placed above eating stations due to the parrots droppings.


Feeding a Timneh African Grey
TimmnehAfricanGreyCandyFeeding your African grey is not difficult. These birds pretty much eat anything we give them so it’s important to understand what is not to be given to a bird as it can be poisonous and detrimental to the parrot. The foods that should never be given are avocado, chocolate, large quantities of onions, or alcoholic beverages.

Foods that are healthy and should be incorporated into the bird’s diet are leafy greens such as spinach, kale, dandelion leaves, or mustard greens. Other healthy vegetables that are nutritious are broccoli, cabbage, or cauliflower.

Beans and legumes are perfect although they should never be given in raw form to the parrots. These need to boil until cooked and can be given with pellets or mixed into a salad.

Not only are vegetables enjoyed by these parrots, but fruits are also a treat. The owner can make fruit kabobs with mango, papaya, kiwi, oranges, lemons, or apples. It is important all uneaten fruit be removed on a daily basis to be sure it does not spoil or attract ants to the cage.

Protein should be given sparingly. These birds enjoy cooked chicken, turkey, beef, or pork. Some Timnehs will hold a chicken drumstick with one hand and eat the flesh from the bone then chew the bone for the marrow.

Because these birds enjoy foraging for food within their cage, owners should hide the food throughout the cage as this gives the bird something to do and keeps them entertained.

If properly fed, a typical Timneh Grey can live to the rightful age of around 50. Most will live well into their 30s.

Common Names: Congo African Grey, Red Tails
Scientific Name: Psittacus erithacus erithacus
Origin: Ghana, Zaire, Congo, Cameroon
Relative Size: 12 inches
Weight: 500 grams
Average Lifespan: 30-50 years
Egg Clutch: 2- 5 eggs, average is 3 eggs
Incubation: 28 days
Talking Ability: Superior

CONGO AFRICAN GREY
African Grey parrots are not colorful compared to other parrots. In fact, they are mostly all gray and look as if they have been dusted with soot. The only color that can be seen on these birds is the bright red color located on their tails. Nevertheless, these parrots are striking specimens that showcase hues of charcoal gray and white throughout their bodies. When in flight, their black wing feathers are exposed and their true elegance can be seen.
These graceful parrots have large black beaks. Their eyes, surrounded with bare patches of white skin, reveal bright yellow irises and prominent black pupils. For the most part, these birds cannot be sexed visually and therefore need a DNA test to determine their true gender. However, some experienced African Grey breeders are able to determine the sex of the birds as the males tend to have elongated skulls, larger beaks, and are larger in comparison to the females.
Unlike budgies and lovebirds, which are prized for their large assortment of color mutations, African Greys do not come in vibrant colors. There are some birds that will have a few red feathers throughout their gray bodies; however, most breeders do not charge for this rare occurrence.
In small quantities, double factored African Greys are available; however, these birds are not usually sold as pets but kept for developing more mutations. Double factored African Greys have a red band of feathers on their chests and backs with an occasional cluster of red feathers on their heads and wings. If two birds of this same mutation are paired for breeding, they can produce solid red colored African Greys. This is such a rarity that it is highly unlikely they will be seen any time soon as pets. 

TOYS FOR A CONGO AFRICAN GREY
These parrots require a play stand. It is important the owner designate an area for the parrot to swing, chew its toys, or climb. The stand should be made of metal or a hardwood as the parrot will quickly destroy it. Some owners will suspend ropes with attached toys from the cage ceilings. This seems to be highly enjoyed by the parrot as this quickly brings out the acrobatic side of the African Grey and allows them to swing and play.
Other items that should be used periodically are foot toys. These are clusters of wood, leather, or beads tied together so the parrot can spend its time chewing on it and breaking the toy apart.
 
FEATHER PICKING
Unlike the Timneh African Grey, Congo African Greys seem to be more prone to feather picking. The reason for this remains a mystery, but there are common factors reported such as stress, loneliness, boredom, or a poor diet. The problem can be difficult to remedy once the parrot has started. If an owner should have to deal with this destructive behavior, the Grey should immediately be taken to a vet to rule out any bacterial infections, parasite invasions, or metal toxicity. If the blood work appears to be normal, the owner should look for other ways to simulate the bird or change its diet as the parrot may be malnourished. Feather picking is a complex issue and varies with each bird. If this is occurring, each bird needs to be evaluated as to how to correct the problem.
 
AFRICAN GREYS IN THE WILD
African Grey parrots are native to Western and Central African Rainforests. They live in dense jungles and are difficult to observe as their native habitat is difficult to trek. Ornithologists, who are lucky enough to study these magnificent parrots in the wild, find African Greys easiest to observe near forest openings comprised of hideouts made of forest branches and palm fronds. Once the birds do arrive, they can be spotted foraging together by the hundreds. They will nervously wander about the ground whistling, playing, and eating clay.
Though the exact reason is unknown why the parrots eat the clay, it is believed it provides extra minerals as well as detoxifies the parrot of any toxins ingested while in the forest. Along with the clay, these birds feed on shoots, tender plants, fruits, blossoms, and nuts.
Little is known about the parrots’ breeding habits in the wild. What is known is that during the breeding season, these birds will separate from their flock into pairs. The bonded pair will seek an older tree to nest in and it is believed they prefer darker locations. The female will prepare the cavity and expand it to her liking while the male stands guard. He will feed the female while she is incubating the eggs. Only when the chicks are old enough to produce their own warmth and the food demands increase, will the mother help to feed the chicks. The babies fledge around nine weeks. Thereafter, they will remain with their parents until they are independent – estimated to be around one year.

AFRICAN GREY’S IN CAPTIVITY
African Greys have been kept in captivity for hundreds of years. Next to the Indian Ringneck parrot, these birds were documented by the Greeks and Romans. These smart feathered friends have been kept by famed people such as King Henry VIII, Queen Victoria, Marie Antoinette, Angelina Jolie, and Hue Hefner.
African Greys are popular throughout the world and are continuing to spread as more people are discovering their talking abilities. In truth, the demand is so great that constant trapping of these parrots, as well as habitat destruction, have reduced their wild numbers to mere thousands. Trappers often use nets installed on the ground, or sticks covered in glue, to catch these birds. Once caught, many are stuffed into wooden crates and sold. Very few survive this traumatic treatment as the overall goal of the poverty stricken trapper is to make money and the parrot’s basic needs are neglected.
Thankfully, laws have been implemented in the United States and Europe stopping the importing of these birds. For this reason, many breeders have established healthy stocks for the pet trade. These parrots can easily be found and their prices are still not too expensive within the United States and Europe. Other countries, such as Australia, have very few of these parrots available and for this reason they can cost a great deal more.


CONGO AFRICAN GREYS AS PETS
Like all parrots, African Greys are smart. They have been deemed the supreme parrot as their talking ability is superior. Quite frankly, no parrot can match the clarity, tone, or cognitive capability of the African Grey. These parrots seem to say the right things at the right time. Most pet Greys are extremely perceptive of the activity inside their home. For this reason, many African Grey parrots will know when their owners leave and return from work. In response to this daily schedule, they will greet them with a “hello” while franticly climbing about their cage waiting to be held. These birds can develop large vocabularies and many quickly learn to associate words with actions, toys, or activities.
It should be said that though African Greys are masters when it comes to talking; however, not all will do so. Many people purchase these birds hoping to have a talking parrot but then become disappointed if the parrot never learns to talk. The outcome is usually grave for the parrot because owners tend to ignore them if the birds don’t talk as expected. If this happens, it can result in serious psychological damage to the bird. These birds do not tolerate neglect as most will resort to plucking, self mutilation, or neurotic behaviors.
An owner who has just purchased a baby African Grey should note the first few years of the parrot’s years are critical when being introduced into the household. Proper socialization techniques should be used to ensure the parrot develops into a healthy bird that can tolerate stress. A great deal of effort should be made to expose the bird to new people, environments, toys, and foods. The parrot should also be taught to play alone as this seems to be the most common source of stress in handfed Greys. The bird should only be praised and rewarded for behaviors desired and negative behaviors ignored.
African Greys are not cuddly parrots such as cockatoos, lovebirds, or conures. Instead, they enjoy being perched on their owner’s shoulders. They seem to be perfectly content watching the world as long as they are near their owners. Watching television, reading a book, or working on the computer is a great way to spend time with an African Grey.

BREEDING CONGO AFRICAN GREYS
Congo African Grey parrots are not as difficult to breed as they were before due to existing established colonies and because many first time breeders find these birds to be enjoyable. It is important that research be done before pairing up these birds for breeding. This upfront research will help to minimize any complications down the road. For example, a female grey might not feed her babies upon hatching and immediate action is then needed to remove the babies to ensure their survival. Each breeding pair is different and only after a few breeding seasons and some trial and errors, will the owner be able to best pair their Greys.
Pairing Congo African Greys successfully can be a little tricky. Some breeders will let their Congo African Greys choose their mates while others will pair the birds and wait to see if they have any chemistry. The best African Greys for breeding are those who have been around other birds and are not too tame. If a bird has been tamed and seeks only human interaction, the chances of it breeding successfully can take many years. It is important to note that some tamed Greys may never become successful breeders as they are too interested in human interaction and thus makes them poor breeders.
Congo African Grey parrots are monogamous and will mate with their partner for life. Once the pair has bonded, they will continue to nest, preen, and live together throughout their long lifespan.
Before any parrot is placed into a breeding program, both birds should be in optimal health. Their eyes should be clear, their feathers pristine, and they should be sexually mature. Most Congo Greys reach maturity around four years; however, very few successfully raise a family before three years.
Their cage should be at least six feet wide, five feet high, and have a width of about six feet. It is also important the cage be suspended as this gives the birds more security. The cage frame should be made of metal as wood will quickly be chewed and the cage destroyed. The location of the cage should be placed in such a way the birds have enough privacy when breeding. Probably one of the most common reasons a pair of Congo Greys can’t successfully breed is due to a lack of privacy. Too much noise, attention, or other birds seems to hinder the birds from breeding.
Along with privacy and the proper cage, an L shaped nesting box should be provided. The box has proved time and time again that the birds like to nest deep into the box as this makes the chicks more difficult to remove by predators. Normal deep boxes can be used, but L shaped boxes seem to be more effective.

Grey Parrot On Stand
When the female Congo African Grey has successfully laid her eggs, the babies can be expected to hatch within 28 days. The female can lay as many as five eggs; however, the standard seems to be three eggs per clutch. The eggs are white and about the size of a walnut. An egg is produced every other day and incubation usually begins once the first or second egg is laid.
 
BREEDING SEASONS
Most parrots in general are triggered by seasonal events that stimulate breeding. Congo African Greys are no different. They prefer nesting in cooler months with less daylight while in captivity. For this reason, most Congo Greys start gearing up to breed around October in the United States. If kept outdoors and the birds are allowed to cycle through their normal breeding routine they can successfully produce two sets of babies per year.
If the pair is kept indoors, these birds can breed throughout the year. Many breeders will increase the amount of food as this helps to stimulate the hen to breed. If sufficient amounts of food are not present, the pair will most likely avoid breeding altogether. Whatever method is used, the hen should be given enough time to rest as too much breeding will deplete her minerals and will shorten her lifespan.

Nesting & Hatching
The temptation might be great for new breeders to inspect the nest weekly if eggs are laid or if chicks are believed to have hatched. This is not a good idea as this will most likely cause the female to abandon her nest. Instead, the breeder should look for signs the chicks have hatched as the female will only leave the box to go to the bathroom, look to see if more food is consumed, or listen for slight chirping sounds from baby chicks. Once these signs are obvious and about one month has passed since the first egg was produced, the box can be inspected. Doing this sooner could be disastrous.
The babies should remain with their mother for at least 15 days. This seems to be enough time to get the proper nutrients and ensures they will be healthy once they are juveniles. All the babies must be pulled for hand feeding as the mother will stop feeding the other chicks if only one is removed.
The babies will start to nibble on solid foods around eight weeks and start to wean around ten weeks. Some Congo Greys will wean around 12 weeks if housed alone. The breeder should continue to feed the chicks until they are fully weaned. Breeders should not deprive the chicks of food in order to make them start feeding independently. The chicks will eventually start eating on their own. Each chick is different and each chick will wean when it is ready. The breeder should wait at least one week after the bird is weaned before it is sent to its new home. The new owners should also practice spoon feeding their parrot as this will come in handy if medications are needed.

CONGO AFRICAN GREY CAGES
Congo African Greys are acrobatic parrots. They love to swing from their toys and climb around their cages. Swinging seems to be such an enjoyable past time that most Congo African Greys will hang upside down and talk while delighting in this activity. For this reason, they need a great deal of space to burn off their extra energy.
The owner should always purchase a cage as large as their budget can afford. A cage that’s four feet in length, three feet in width, and 4 feet in height will do for starters. If possible, the cage should have a play stand installed on top of the cage as the bird will enjoy many hours there as well.
The cage should be powder coated and some cages can last 20 or more years if properly maintained. The bottom of the cage should have a grill to ensure the parrot does not have access to spilt food, droppings, or any of the bacteria that resides there. A tray that can easily slide out for cleaning is important as this will need to be emptied and cleaned daily.

FEEDING YOUR CONGO GREY
Probably one of the most important aspects of keeping any African Grey is maintaining a proper diet. These birds do not do well on diets only consisting of seeds. In fact, a diet only comprised of seeds offers little nutrition and will cause serious problems down the road such as seizures due to a lack of calcium or problematic ailments due to a lack of Vitamin A.
These birds need to be feed a base diet of seeds, avian pellets, vegetables, and fruits. These various foods should be rotated daily to provide the various nutrients that are needed to keep a bird healthy. African Greys seem to like different textures, colors, and tastes in their foods. Do not be afraid to experiment with a variety of foods.
Weekly cuts of fresh broccoli, kale, and spinach should be given to keep calcium levels up. Other sources of calcium can be found in Brazil nuts, almonds, flax seeds, and oranges. Many owners will make shish kabobs with steamed squashes such as pumpkin, zucchini, butter nut squash, cooked sweet potatoes, carrots, or cantaloupe. Brightly colored peppers such as bell peppers, jalapenos, Anaheim chilies, Fresno peppers, or Poblano peppers are enjoyed as well.
Approximately once or twice a week, the bird should be given some form of protein such as chicken or turkey. African Greys are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything we eat. It is important the food not be processed as this will make the bird overweight.
Foods that should never be given to an African Grey are chocolate, avocado, onions, or alcohol. These food items can make the parrot ill and lead to its death.
If a Congo African Grey is fed the proper diet, most can reach into their mid thirties without problems—some have even been recorded to live well into their fifties.

Police are on the hunt for burglars who have made off with a pet parrot called Rocky.
Thieves took the seven-year-old African Grey in the break-in at a house in the Rhymney Valley village of Pengam, Caerphilly county.
Police said Rocky has distinctive markings, with red feathers on his leg.
Officers said it has now been a week since the much-loved pet was taken from its home on Commercial Street, along with other valuables.
Anyone with information about Rocky is asked to contact Gwent Police.
source: bbc.com

Parrots are among the top 5 most sought after pets in homes. This is mainly due to their intelligence and many more factors. Jordan Walker, the lead content curator of Coops and Cages, shares some interesting facts about this smart creature.
There are close to 400 species of parrots and each one of them is unique. However, most experts agree that parrots are among the most intelligent birds in the world alongside crows, magpies, ravens and jays. While parrots are pretty common as pets, not many know everything there is about them. Here are 10 interesting facts to get you going.

1. Parrots are zygodactyls
What does this mean? This term refers to the arrangement of toes on an animal. Parrots are zygodactyls which means that they have two toes pointing forward and two pointing back. Such arrangement can only be found in parrots, some owls, cuckoos, woodpeckers and chameleons.


2. Parrots can live up to 80 years old
While small parrots like hanging parrots, lovebirds and budgies have lifespans of 10 – 20 years, larger species like amazons, macaws, cockatoos are clocking close to 80 years or so.

3. Male and female parrots are mostly identical
Typically, male and female parrots are identical for majority of the species. With species belonging to this majority, only those with a keen eye or have the ability to verify with lab tests can separate the 2 genders. For the lucky few, like the eclectus parrot, there are giveaways that separate male from female like differences in color.

4. 33% of the total species are endangered
One-third of the nearly 400 species of parrots are close to extinction. Logging or habitat destruction is the biggest factor contributing to this and followed closely by animal poaching for trade purposes.

5. They can lift up food to their mouths using only their feet
The sentence is pretty self-explanatory but is an astounding revelation all the same. Most birds have to use their beak to lift their food. Otherwise, they carry it around using their feet.


6. Parrots mate for life
Parents are much more monogamous than humans. The only time they would seek another mate is when the current one dies, gets captured or disappears for some other reason. They also look for new mates if their current one is not able to produce any offspring.

7. They are omnivores
Although they have a preferred diet of fruit, pollen, nectar, seeds and buds, parrots also feed on arthropods, snails and other small animals.

8. They aren’t known for building nests
Around 6 species of parrots are known to build nests in trees and around 3 build nests in the ground. The rest pretty much rely on tree hollows and cavities.

9. Only 1 national flag has a parrot
The Commonwealth of Dominica features an imperial amazon parrot in the center of its flag. Also known as the sisserou, this parrot can only be found on this island country.
10. Some parrots sleep on only 1 foot
Parrots have feathers on all but their bare legs. As this would be the entry point of cold and the exit point of warmth, parrots like to tuck in one of their feet so as to keep it warm and use the other for balance. After some time, they will alternate the two.
There are tons more fascinating facts about parrots out there. Hopefully, by learning this, everyone grows to appreciate and becomes able to take care of parrots properly.

Author: Jordan Walker
Jordan is the lead content curator for Coops and Cages as well as other pet-related blogs. His passion for animals is matched with his passion for “attempting” to play the guitar. If you would like to catch more of him, you can by following his Twitter or Facebook accounts.
source : urparrot.com

A hero bear goes into action and saves a drowning crow in this heartwarming rescue at the Budapest Zoo in Hungary. After noticing the bird in danger, the bear reaches into the water, lifts it by its wing, and drops the crow safely. Credit to Aleksander Medves.