Timneh African Grey
Timneh African Grey naturally inhabits the continent of Africa. Specifically, populations exist in parts of Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, the islands off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, and most of Liberia and Sierra Leone.
In its natural habitat, this species is mostly fine in dense tropical forests, making it relatively elusive. This being said, it can also be spot at forest edges, savannahs dot with trees, and even occasionally closer to human civilisation.
Unfortunately, as of its last assessment, the IUCN Red List considers the Timneh African Grey to be an Endangered species. It notes heavy pressure on the population from habitat loss and – despite it being illegal – trapping for the pet trade. Their numbers are thought to be on a heavy decline.
TIMNEH AFRICAN GREY INTELLIGENCE & PERSONALITY
Timneh African Greys are extremely intelligent birds with an exceptional capacity for continuing to learn throughout their lives. Typically shy and introverted as adults, they usually form a close bond with a single person and can be more distant towards others.
This parrot species is among the most routine-oriented and keenly observant of their species. They can respond negatively to even minor changes in their environment, like when you move the toys in their cage around. It’s important to spend time desensitising your Timneh African Grey to new things to prevent unnecessary stress.
As empathetic and emotional creatures, they possess unique personalities, but it’s important to keep in mind that they can also be very demanding of their owner’s time and attention.
TIMNEH AFRICAN GREY TALKING ABILITY
Timneh African Greys have the ability to be exceptional talkers and mimics, probably the best of all parrots. They can learn to precisely replicate sounds from around the household, like the ring of a telephone or the beep of a microwave.
The species’ imitation of human voices can be so accurate that sometimes, you might even recognise the individual they’re imitating. They can develop huge vocabularies containing hundreds of words and sounds. Their talking ability is almost as good as that of the Congo African Grey Parrot. Research suggests they may even be able to use words in context, suggesting they actually understand what they’re saying in some cases.
FEEDING YOUR TIMNEH AFRICAN GREY PARROT
In their natural habitat, Timneh African Greys forage in the treetops for seeds, nuts, fruits, and berries. In captivity, their diet can include a mix of high-quality parrot pellets, sprouts, seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and more. Variety is the key to a happy and healthy bird!
It’s important to keep in mind that while seeds are the traditional choice, and they do offer some nutritional benefits, they are high in fat and lack (micro)nutrients. This particularly applies to sunflower seeds, which should never be a large component of their diet. You can use them as training treats instead.
