Gray parrot or red-tailed yaco

Coming from Africa, the red-tailed gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) , or simply gray parrot or African parrot, is an incredibly beautiful and intelligent bird, with a praiseworthy capacity for memorization and a remarkable longevity, with some specimens that have lived for more than 90 years.

Origin of the gray parrot

The gray parrot is found naturally in almost all of Africa, and specimens can be seen in various countries, such as Kenya or Nigeria, but not all gray parrots are the same, since depending on the region it will be more frequent to see one or another of the three subspecies of gray parrot that exist: the nominate, which is the most frequent as well as the most appreciated as a pet, the vinegar-tailed parrot and the one from the islands of S. Tomé and Príncipe.

The yaco’s habitat is made up of mangrove swamps and leafy equatorial forests, including areas bordering river courses and swamps. Currently, due to the destruction of many of these habitats, the Red-tailed Gray Parrot is listed as an endangered species.

There are no documents that date the existence of the red-tailed gray parrot from a specific moment in history, although it is estimated that it already existed more than 4000 years ago, being a species of very remote origins.

During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries they were highly prized as pets among European nobles, it is said that even King Henry VII of England kept one of these gray parrots as a pet at Hampton Court. That is why it is believed that they arrived in Europe en masse on merchant ships, for later sale as exotic animals.

Characteristics of the African Gray Parrot

The red-tailed gray parrot falls into the medium-sized parrot category, with an average weight of between 350 and 400 grams, and a length, measured from the beak to the end of the tail, of between 27 and 33 centimeters. They are animals with a long life expectancy, which is usually around 50 years in the wild and more than 60 in captivity.

Continuing with the characteristics of the gray parrot, it has two colors in its plumage, gray on the body, with different shades of this color, while the tail is, as its name says, red. The legs are dark gray and the beak is always black.

Something curious is that there are no differentiating physical characteristics between males and females, which would be called sexual dimorphism, although there are those who defend that females have lighter plumage, or that males have a somewhat square head and a slightly larger beak. . The truth is that the only way to safely sex a gray parrot is with DNA analysis, or veterinary techniques such as endoscopy.

Gray parrot character

African gray parrots are very social, since in freedom they are gregarious animals, that is, they live in perfectly hierarchical flocks that can be made up of hundreds of these birds. It is noteworthy that, like its congeners, the red-tailed gray parrot establishes solid and stable pair bonds, which are maintained for life, being one of the animals most faithful to its partner.

If the animal lives in captivity, it needs a lot of dedication, since due to its intelligence and sensitivity, it will require our attention to remain emotionally and physically healthy. In addition, the gray parrot is incredibly perceptive, being able to identify the feelings and moods of its guardians. Likewise, they are very talkative, and with not much training they will learn an amazing range of words, and even complete sentences.

It is not recommended for families with children, as it has a powerful beak and very sharp claws that can cause serious damage to children if they are not handled properly.

Red-tailed Gray Parrot Care

When we adopt a red-tailed gray parrot, we must consider that we will have to emulate as best as possible the conditions in which it would live if it were free in its original habitat. That is why, for example, your diet should be based on plant foods, fruits, vegetables, seeds and vegetables. It is recommended that they be provided with foods such as cabbage, lettuce or parsley, which should be available to them on a regular basis. Other foods will be provided in a more complementary way, such as fruit. The seeds, on the other hand, are fundamental, since they provide many nutritional benefits, but we must take care that they do not exceed 10% of the total intake. We know that the food is being adequate and sufficient if our gray parrot has a glossy plumage and no feather fall, which would show a deficit of vitamins or minerals. In addition, we must always leave clean and fresh water, thus preventing it from becoming dehydrated. See the article on “Recommended fruits and vegetables for parrots”.

Another fundamental aspect of caring for the Gray Parrot is the cage in which it will live. It must be of considerable dimensions, allowing it to move and containing its drinker and feeder, as well as toys and one or more perches where it can perch. It would be ideal if it had a removable plate or tray, which facilitates the cleaning and maintenance of the cage in optimal conditions for our parrot. We have to place it in a quiet place, free from noise and other animals, but with enough sunlight. Of course, it will be essential to let the gray parrot enjoy hours of freedom, outside the cage, to exercise and stay emotionally balanced. A bird permanently confined to a cage is not a happy bird.

On the other hand, being such an intelligent animal, we can spend little time teaching it words, tricks, etc., which will favor the bond between animal and guardian and allow it to exercise its mind.

Reproduction of the red-tailed gray parrot

As for breeding, we will differentiate between what happens in freedom and captive breeding. When the gray parrot is in nature, the first thing it will do during the breeding season, which does not have specific dates because it is determined by the region and the climate, will be to look for a place where it will nest, either alone with its partner or in community of several couples; They will do it in the holes and cavities that they find in the trunks of the trees. It can reproduce annually, once or twice a year, or even not breed that year. It is estimated that the gray parrot reaches sexual maturity at around 3 years of age, somewhat later in the case of males. The laying is between 2 and 5 eggs, and they are incubated for a minimum of 27 days and a maximum of 30. When the parrots are born they remain in the nest until, at 70-80 days,

If we want our domestic yaco to have offspring, the first thing will be to know their gender for sure and find a partner, with whom they congenial and are prone to procreate, for this reason it is recommended that they have lived together for a considerable time before breeding. Then, we will make sure that the cage is big enough and we will provide them with a nest, such as a wooden or plastic box in which they fit loosely and fill it with sawdust or paper shavings. The number of eggs and the time of incubation and maturation of the chicks will not change with respect to rearing in the wild.

As the gray parrot is a threatened animal, it is not advisable to breed it in captivity, and it is best to leave this task to the fauna recovery and species preservation centers. Likewise, it should be noted that the commercialization of these animals is illegal in some countries.

Red-tailed Gray Parrot Health

We have to consider various aspects that must be addressed to keep our pet healthy and disease-free. One of the most important factors will be feeding, since one of the most frequent pathologies in the gray parrot will be the lack of calcium in the diet, which is called hypocalcaemia, which would cause muscle weakness, tremors and convulsions, as well as inability to produce eggs with a hard shell, causing retention of the same. In addition, we have to take care that their cage is always clean, otherwise they can suffer from aspergillosis, which is caused by a fungus that proliferates in unsanitary conditions. Bird antibiotics

Due to their intelligence, the yacos can present behavioral disorders such as pecking, which consists of pecking and even plucking their feathers, with the damage that this causes. To avoid them, a suitable environment is recommended, with attention and affection, food and water, as well as suitable toys or entertainment.

They are sensitive to humidity and cold, and can develop colds. To treat them you have to move them to a warmer and drier place in the house and take them to the vet, who will be the one to estimate if they need pharmacological treatment.

Like many birds, gray parrots can suffer from ornithosis or psittacosis, a bacterial infection that will cause respiratory infections, conjunctivitis, sinusitis or sneezing, veterinary attention being essential, since it is also a zoonotic disease, that is, it can be transmitted to the humans.

As with other pets, to preserve the health of the gray parrot, we must pay attention to both internal and external deworming, as well as vaccinations, which will help us avoid dangerous diseases such as polyomavirus or Pacheco’s disease