Many people aren’t even aware that there are two types of African Grey parrots – the Timneh and the Congo. Their appearances and mannerisms are similar, but there are quite a few differences between them.
Appearance
Congo African Grey (CAG) parrots are larger than their cousins, the Timneh (TAG), and are generally lighter in color. The most distinctive feature of the CAG is its tail feathers, which are a very vibrant, bright red, whereas the Timneh’s tail feathers are a deeper maroon color. The Timneh also has a horn-colored upper mandible, where the CAG does not.
Speaking Ability
There is much debate in the bird community on whether one species can talk better than the other. The majority of people say that the Congo can speak more understandably and with more proficiency than the Timneh, but this hypothesis seems largely unsupported. There are people who own or have owned both varieties and say that they learned at the same rate and with the same talent. Both the CAG and TAG are excellent speakers-African Grey parrots are commonly considered the best chatters in the bird world.
Temperament
Again, this is one of those “grey areas”, if you’ll pardon the pun. There are those for both breeds who insist that “their breed” has a better temperament. Honestly, It depends on the bird. African Grey parrots in general make loving, committed, and fun pets, but there is no proof that either the TAG or the CAG are “better”.
Price
The Timneh is considerably cheaper than the Congo, due in large part to the popular status of CAGs. You can usually obtain a Timneh for a few hundred dollars less than a Congo.
Diet
As both CAGs and TAGs originate from the same area, there aren’t any glaring differences in their preferred diets. For both, a nice mix of seeds, nuts, fresh fruits, and leafy greens will do the trick.
Other than appearance and size, there aren’t many differences between the Timneh and the Congo. However, size can be an issue for some prospective parrot parents. If you live in a small apartment or home, you must take the bird’s size into consideration. CAGs are much larger than TAGs, and because of this require a cage that will take up considerably more space in your home.
Which breed is right for you will ultimately depend on which bird takes your fancy. Go to that breeder, or that shelter, or that pet store, and spend some time with the birds. I believe that the bird you choose as your lifelong companion should be based on that bird’s personality, rather than its breed. Birds are not an impulse buy; you don’t buy them because they are pretty. Keep in mind that that the average lifespan for an African Grey parrot is fifty to sixty-five years. Do you really want to make that purchase based on which one is more attractive? Take a lesson from divorcees all over the nation: looks aren’t nearly as important as compatibility.
