African Gray Parrots did, in fact originate in central Africa.
In the parrot realm they are considered a medium sized parrot, growing to between 10 and 14 inches long.
There are two types of this species.
One is the Timneh African Gray which is a darker charcoal-like gray and has a maroon tail.
The other is the Congo African Gray which is a lighter gray in color with a red tail.
As in many species of animals, the females tend to be slightly smaller than the males.
They also tend to have a more slender neck and narrower head.
Other than that, unlike many other species where the male is fancier and more colorful, the coloring and appearance of both males and females is similar.
Considered by many to be both beautiful and intelligent, African Gray Parrots are also considered one of the easiest species of parrots to keep.
They are very bright and are well known for their incredible speaking and problem solving abilities.
They're quite capable of developing a large vocabulary and African Gray owners claim that they have an excellent rapport with these extraordinary creatures.
Since African Grays can live up to 60 years, if you want to own one you need to be prepared to make a long term commitment to them.
Owners also need to be well educated, experienced, or both, so that they are are able to understand and meet their parrot's needs.
Even though this particular species of birds are very social and make great pets they can develop stressed behaviors or behavioral problems if they get lonely or bored.
These birds need plenty of interaction and mental stimulation! Sometimes even just small changes in their normal daily routines can result in crankiness and/or acting out.
The African Gray is quite a sensitive creature! Behavioral problems can include self destructive behavior like feather plucking, excessive screaming or even biting.
If you have young children you may not want to leave them unsupervised with your parrot.
If your parrot is undisciplined he can also exhibit bad behaviors and get into lots of trouble.
Make sure not to reinforce bad behavior since parrots tend to pick things up quickly.
The flip side of this, however, is that they also learn good behavior quickly and are easily trained.
One of the reasons that African Gray Parrots make such great pets is because they are very social birds.
Even though they are not overly fond of physical contact, they often appreciate having their heads scratched and being petted.
They can also reciprocate and show their affection for you in some novel ways.
Sometimes they may try to "kiss" their owners on the lips.
You do want to take care doing this since human saliva contains bacteria that is hazardous to birds.
Regurgitating, otherwise known as "feeding" to your parrot, is another sign of their affection towards you.
In nature this species of parrots show their preference for company and their social personalities by flocking together while domesticated parrots tend to make their human family part of their flock.
Once you adopt one into your family you will be hooked.
You won't be able to imagine life without African Gray Parrots!