Family Parrots (Psittacidae)

Endangered

Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus)

Taxonomy

French: Perroquet jaco German: Graupapagei Spanish: Loro yaco

Other common names: African Grey Parrot

Taxonomy:

Psittacus erithacus

Linnaeus

, 1758,

Ghana

Hitherto considered conspecific with P. timneh (which see). Race princeps often considered inseparable from erithacus, but recent study revealed genetic differentiation from mainland populations#R. Two subspecies tentatively recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution

P. e. erithacus Linnaeus, 1758 – SE Ivory Coast E to W Kenya and NW Tanzania and S to SC DRCongo and Cabinda (N Angola), including Bioko and (probably introduced) São Tomé.

P. e. princeps Alexander, 1909 – Príncipe I, in Gulf of Guinea.

Feral populations (erithacus) in many African cities.

Descriptive notes

28–39 cm; 402–490 g. Bare facial area around eye whitish, head scaled white on grey extending onto darker grey back and breast; wings mid-grey, primaries blackish... read more

Voice

Wide range of squawks, whistles, shrieks and screams reported, both in flight and perched, with... read more

Habitat

Generally lowland moist forest, both primary and secondary, including edges and clearings, and also... read more

Food and feeding

Fruits and seeds, notably the oily flesh but not stone of oil-palm, the most preferred food in Gabon, also Ficus, Heisteria... read more

Breeding

Season Nov–Apr in Príncipe and Gabon; Feb–Sept in E Africa; Jul–Dec in Zaire. Monogamous. Nest in hole (0·6... read more

Movements

Resident. In Kibale Forest Reserve, W Uganda, abundance related to presence or absence of fruiting... read more

Status and conservation

ENDANGERED. CITES I. Locally abundant with a very large range, hence with a high world population. Believed to have undergone rapid population decline over last 50 years,... read more

Bibliography

Public comments

Recommended citation

Collar, N., Kirwan, G.M. & Sharpe, C.J. (2019). Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/54603 on 7 December 2019).

Scientific classification

Class: Aves

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

— Show family text —

Recent reappraisal of higher taxonomy of parrots#R proposed arrangement into three superfamilies, here treated as families (Strigopidae, Cacatuidae, Psittacidae); same study split Psittacidae, as here defined, into three families, with additional recognition of Psittrichasidae (Psittrichas to Coracopsis, below) and Psittaculidae (Psephotus to Micropsitta, below); in present work, separation of these families considered to require further study and perhaps additional support. In the past, present family was often split into two, with recognition of family Loriidae; at the other extreme, it was sometimes considered to include all Psittaciformes.

Subfamily: Psittacinae

Genus: Psittacus Linnaeus, 1758

See full taxonomic structure and notes

News on this species

Collapse of Grey Parrot populations in Ghana

Over the last 50 years, populations of the Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) have undergone rapid declines everywhere across its large equatorial West African range, as a result of the trapping of wild birds and loss of forest habitat. Despite this, the species range has changed little and the only indication of a problem is a sharp drop in numbers. Even with its popularity as a cagebird and concern over its future that is reflected in its IUCN listing as Vulnerable, global population estimates are over 15 years old and there are almost no quantitative data on changes in abundance.