African Greys Are Loud! Here Is What You Can Do

African Grey parrots are popular as a household pet for their uncanny talent of mimicking human speech. Since these fascinating species of parrots are exceptionally good at learning words and sounds, you will find that African Greys often become very loud at times.

Are African Greys loud? The most straightforward answer to this question is YES! This is because they are very interactive and pick every word and sound in their environment very quickly, and over time, become loud and persistent when they get to hear these sounds on a daily basis.

African Grey Parrots have been kept as pet birds for centuries now. Sounds odd to hear, but it is true. People used to keep pet birds in biblical times, too.

Not only this parrot has perfected the art of mimicking human speech, but also understands what you are saying – so it can be safely concluded that they are interactive birds that are quite talkative! However, there could be several other reasons behind their excessive chatter.

Why are African Grey Parrots loud?

There are several reasons behind your African Grey parrot becoming excessively loud and chatty.

Even though we have already mentioned that they are avid talkers rather than screamers, however, their ability to quickly learn things makes them more acquainted and influenced by the environment to make loud noises.

Here are a few other common reasons why your parrot has become excessively noisy:

They Feel Unhappy or Threatened by Something

Your African Grey parrot may be becoming excessively loud because he/she may not like the conditions they are living in. They tend to scream or shriek when they are frustrated, not happy or feeling threatened by something their surroundings.

An ironic fact is that they are actually one of the quietest species in the species of big parrots, however, their quick-wittedness and ability to learn and talk quickly makes them more vocal than others.

In fact, research shows that African Greys understand that the key to getting a response from their human companions is screaming or making loud noises.

Therefore, the next time you are at home and you hear them shouting out of proportion, try to investigate the cause and how you can meet their needs in a better way.

Lack of Stimulation

The reasons may also include a lack of stimulation and excessive boredom. Since these birds are quite intelligent, lack of stimulation or activity can lead to frustration.

Also, if you leave your pet bird alone for prolonged periods, they might become agitated and start screaming simply because they have nothing else to do.

We show you why parrots should not be left alone here!

A Call for Food

Excessive shrieking can also be a call for food or even to tell you, “Get me out of my cage and take me to breathe in some fresh air, mate!”

They are Checking Up on You

African Greys are really affectionate and caring, too. One of the reasons they may scream or whistle is to check up on you, and if you do not reply back, you are inviting more noise and agitation from your pet friend.

It may not be the high-pitched sound you usually hear from them but not replying to their call may force them to scream. They may also become excessively loud because they are:

Upset
Hurt
Lonely
Scared
Or Overly Excited (This can also lead to shaking. If your African Grey is shaking often, you should read our article on that here.)

Can I Do Anything to Quiet Them?

Well, the good news is, you can definitely quiet them, but how? Parrots make noise and that is their trait that sets them apart from other birds.

While most people like this point of a difference since they do not like to live in lone and quiet surroundings, but for many, the repetitive and obnoxious sounds are frustrating.

However, you do not need to take an impulsive decision and put the birdcage outside your main door. They can be tamed, but it requires your time and willingness to train your pet.

Interact with Them The good thing about African Grey parrots, or other species for that matter, is that you can train their noises and actions mindfully and make your household heaven.

While 95% of the chances are that your parrot is screaming to get you to interact with him/her, you can come with an easy solution to lower their calls. Try to designate a small part of your day to your pet, maybe twice a day.

Respond, But With a Different Approach

You need to first make sure that you ignore the obnoxious screaming or loud babbles at all costs. This means that ignore the parrot when it is screaming.

Do not speak, do not look, or even better, do not come into the room. You will notice that the noise will start getting louder but ultimately, it will extinguish if you follow the tip.

However, this is not as simple as you may think. You need to substitute the ways you give attention to your pet, which replaces the noise. African Grey parrots love to play and they can do this for hours, so try to give attention to them when they’re playing quietly.

If you continue to respond to the bird when it is screaming or shouting, it is more likely that it will think that shouting is the best way to get your attention.

Keep Them Busy With Toys and Keep Them Close to Where the Action Is

They are intelligent birds that need lots of attention and toys to keep them busy. Try to rotate their toys inside and outside their cage. If you want to know what toys are perfect for African greys, we recommend reading our following articles:

Also, try to make sure that their play areas are located in the center or somewhere close to the center of your home, where there is continuous foot traffic.

Simply put, keep them where all the action is! Do not try to hide them away in a bedroom or a corner that you hardly pass by because this will make them feel bored and secluded, therefore you are inviting the obnoxious noises yourself.

It is also cruel to keep such an intelligent bird somewhere where there is little to no possibility of interaction with humans. (Did you know that African Greys are even smarter than the huge Macaws? We explain more on that here!)

Since you need to spend at least two hours with your bird (more is better), hanging out does not need to be interaction – it can be as simple as having it on a perch next to you while you are watching TV.

Stick to a Schedule

A parrot may also become obnoxiously loud if they are really accustomed to hanging around with their human friend on a daily basis, and then there is a schedule change.

A change in schedule will mean that it will not be able to interact with you as often as it used to, therefore try to bring stability in their schedule.

On the other hand, it is healthy for a new pet bird at home to have some downtime, away from its owner. If this is maintained from the beginning, they will not be upset when they are alone, and so you will not get to hear them scream that often.

African Grey Parrots are lovely and intelligent birds that make up for beautiful pets, but you need to give them time to get them tuned to your schedule.

If you do not take the necessary steps or are not prepared from the start, your home may sound like an angry bird’s cage from the outside, which will certainly not be appealing to your neighbors!