TAG, YOU’RE IT!

The Timneh African Grey

By Tammy Gagne

            Julie Wychor says she had no idea there could be so many different shades of gray on a single bird until she got her Timneh African grey (TAG) parrot, Charlie. “I love all the different grays in Charlie’s feathers. I also love his intelligent eyes and the way they always seem to study everything around him, taking it all in.”

            The Timneh African grey (Psittacus erithacus timneh), though not quite as popular at its more readily available cousin, the Congo African grey, possesses nearly all the benefits of the larger subspecies. According to many handlers, it also lacks many of its shortcomings.

            Margaret Wall, the handfeeder and socializer for Bird Originals in Lewisville, North Carolina, states, “Timnehs are less nervous than Congos, more sociable than Congos, less hand-shy than Congos, and form less strong ‘one-person’ bonds with humans. All around they seem to be more of a family oriented bird than does the Congo.”

As both birds’ names illustrate, the Timneh African grey is predominantly, well, gray. (The British spelling – grey – is used most often in the species name.) But the Timneh’s feathers are a darker, charcoal gray in comparison to the Congo’s silvery shade. Feathers on the nape, neck, and throat are bordered with a thin ridge of white. The white facial skin is unfeathered. Whereas the Congo’s tail feathers are bright red, the Timneh sports a more subdued, maroon tail. Both are considered short-tailed parrots.

Although it is very rare, some greys have subtle red feathering throughout their bodies. These birds may be referred to as red-factor greys.

Karl Lieberman is the bird purchaser for Bird Crazy, Inc. in San Diego, California. He assesses, “While Timnehs lack the flash of the Congo, they have a very neat and handsome appearance. Their plumage often has a slightly blue or lavender sheen in good light, which is attractive.”

Wall elaborates, “The Timneh is darker than the Congo, but their feathers feel and shine like satin. I’ve heard bird store owners refer to the Timneh as ‘the other grey’ and ‘the ugly grey’ because their coloring is less flashy and outstanding than the Congo. However, I have found more satisfied customers with the Timnehs on a long-term basis than I do with the Congos.”

Wall raises both Timnehs and Congos, and she is a Congo owner, as well. She confides, “I personally like the Timnehs better than the Congos. Had I been more familiar with the Timnehs four years ago, you can bet I would have had a Timneh instead of a Congo.”

Wall shares, “The Timnehs have large, dark eyes that sort of remind you of a puppy’s eyes – big, soft, dark, and sweet.” But this dark gray or black begins to fade by age one, and the bird’s iris turns a light yellow by adulthood, approximately the age of five.

While the Congo’s beak is entirely black, the Timneh’s upper mandible is horn colored with a dark tip.

The Timneh measures between 9 and 11 inches long and weighs between 275 and 400 grams – roughly two-thirds the size of the Congo. Wall emphasizes, “Because Timnehs are smaller, they are easier for most people to handle as such.”

Wall also cites the Timneh’s increased tolerance for younger people when touting their advantages as a pet. “Congos,” she contrasts, “don’t usually do well with children. The Timneh likes children a lot more. It is a much sweeter, less nervous bird.”

Joanne Joe of Southern California owns two Timnehs; she also owns two Congos. “For us it wasn’t a matter of choosing one over the other. We went to buy a Congo, and there was this ‘second-hand’ little fella, looking scared and unwanted. So we bought both him and the Congo.”

Joe asserts, “Timnehs are strong-willed and mischievous, comical and quirky. They are zany little gray people.”

Wall further describes the Timneh’s temperament as active and inquisitive.

Lieberman adds, “The Timneh often enjoys being petted and cuddled; this is somewhat unusual for many Congos. Timnehs also tend to be rather gentle and less inclined to nip or bite than many Congos.”

Regina Jolley is a TAG breeder who has been raising birds for more than 20 years. She states, “My pet Timneh has a very independent personality. He reminds me of a toddler that wants to do everything on his own. ‘No, Mom! I can do that myself.’ ”

While they may indeed be independent birds, Lieberman notes, “They are usually good eaters and not difficult to introduce new foods to.”

Jolley tells me humorously about her Timneh, Hayden, “I just learned the other day that if I put a dish of really good food in his cage, he can eat for an hour straight!”

Although both species are native to Africa, the Timneh is found in a smaller area, including Liberia and the Ivory Coast.  Wild greys flock in large numbers and are known for causing considerable damage to cultivated crops. They will feed on fruits, seeds, young shoots, and nuts, but they seem to possess a special fondness for maize. 

In Wychor’s opinion the Timneh’s best quality is its intelligence. “I am often in awe of how quickly Charlie figures things out or puts words together to make a new phrase.”

Lieberman reports, “I have heard that Timnehs are more prized than Congos in European countries. Americans appear to favor the brighter colors and larger size of the Congo – and also seem to mistakenly believe the Congo is the superior talker. Many people are surprised to learn that talking potential is identical for both species.”

The African grey parrots are well known for their astounding mimicry of both sounds and speech – likely the best of all avian species. Studies have shown that these birds actually understand language, as well as numbers. The IQ’s of some greys have been equated with that of a five-year-old child, but with emotional capabilities closer to that of a two-year-old.

Although the Timnehs are known for being less timid than the Congos, remember that this is a relative statement. In general greys are shy birds. They are known for growling when frightened, but most will first attempt to flee from perceived danger.

Wychor relates, “Charlie is very afraid of strangers and usually will not talk at all when a stranger is present. One day when a repairman was in the house and had to walk past Charlie’s play gym, Charlie screamed, jumped off his play gym, ran across the floor, and hid under the couch!”

A Timneh’s cage should be as large as possible, with minimum measurements of 30x30x30 inches. Toys should be plentiful and stimulating, but never relied upon as birdsitters.

With an average lifespan of between 50 and 70 years, the Timneh African grey is a bird that requires an owner’s lifetime commitment. This commitment also demands considerable owner attention. Because the TAG is so intelligent, it cannot simply be left alone in a cage all day with few toys and little interaction. Kept in situations like this, the Timneh will likely become vulnerable to self-mutilating behaviors such as feather plucking.

In general, however, the TAG appears to be a less neurotic pet than the Congo. Lieberman points out, “I like the relative ‘handle-ability’ of Timnehs and the fact that they are far less prone to feather destructive behaviors than Congos. I have rarely seen a plucked Timneh.”

If adequate time and attention is given to a Timneh, it has excellent apartment potential. As Joe affirms, “For the most part they are quiet birds.”

The grey’s history is a long one, dating back over 4,000 years. Egyptian hieroglyphics depict these parrots as pets, and Greeks and Romans continued the practice. Prized for their ability to speak, greys were most often kept by wealthy families. Henry VIII of England was also an African grey owner.

While Congos can sometimes sell for $1,000 or more, a prospective TAG owner will often pay less than $700 for a Timneh. Finding one, though, might not prove to be quite so easy.

Wall stresses that her biggest struggle has been having enough Timneh babies for everyone who wants one. Lieberman concurs, “I wish there were greater numbers being bred in the United States!”

Even Congo breeders are noticing the increasing demand for the Timneh. Craig Johnson, owner of J-Birds, a Congo aviary in Mandeville, Louisiana, tells me, “One thing I have learned is that when a buyer is looking for a Timneh, they will settle for nothing less!”