African grey parrot  (Psittacus erithacus)

Species information

Videos and images

Authentication

Authenticated (18/02/09) by Dr Irene Pepperberg, Adjunct Associate Professor in Psychology, Brandeis University, and Research Associate and Lecturer in Psychology, Harvard University.
http://www.alexfoundation.org

Glossary

  • Coverts: small feathers concealing the bases of larger flight feathers, usually on the wings or tail.
  • Gallery forest: forest found along streams and rivers.
  • Incubation: the act of incubating eggs, that is, keeping them warm so that development is possible.
  • Interbreeding: cross-breeding with a different species or subspecies.
  • Primary forest: forest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition.
  • Secondary forest: forest that has re-grown after a major disturbance, such as fire or timber harvest, but has not yet reached the mature state of primary forest.
  • Subspecies: a population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.

References

  1. IUCN Red List (November, 2008)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org/
  2. BirdLife International (November, 2008)
    http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1496&m=0
  3. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (1997) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos.Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
  4. CITES (November, 2008)
    http://www.cites.org
  5. Alden, P.C., Estes, R.D., Schlitter, D. and McBridge, B. (1996) Collins Guide to African Wildlife.HarperCollins Publishers, London.
  6. Erritzoe, J. (1993) The Birds of CITES and How to Identify Them.The Lutterworth Press, Cambridge.
  7. World Parrot Trust (November, 2008)
    http://www.parrots.org/index.php/encyclopedia/profile/grey_parrot/
  8. Athan, M.S. and Deter, D. (2000) The African Grey Parrot Handbook.Barron’s Educational Series, New York.
  9. African Grey Parrots: Guide, Care and Community (November, 2008)
    http://www.africangreyparrotguide.com/conservation.php
  10. BirdLife International. (2006) BirdLife International’s Review of the Status of the African Grey Parrot and Proposals to CITES for its Conservation.22nd meeting of the Animals Committee, Lima, Peru.
  11. Melo, M. and O’Ryan, C. (2007) Genetic differentiation between Príncipe Island and mainland populations of the grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), and implications for conservation. Molecular Ecology, 16: 1673 - 1685.
  12. Cruickshank, A.J., Gautier, J.P. and Chappuis, C. (1993) Vocal mimicry in wild African Grey Parrots Psittacus erithacus. Ibis, 135 (3): 293 - 299.
  13. Brouwer, K., Jones, M.L., King, C.E. and Schifter, H. (2000) Longevity records for Psittaciformes in captivity. International Zoo Yearbook, 37 (1): 299 - 316.
  14. Pepperberg, I.M. (2006) Cognitive and communicative abilities of Grey parrots. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 100: 77 - 86.
  15. Ecoworldly (February, 2009)
    http://ecoworldly.com/2009/01/25/smuggler-caught-with-heads-of-353-african-gray-parrots/
  16. UNEP-WCMC: Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (November, 2008)
    http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/pdf/Salonga.pdf
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