African Grey Vs Amazon

[Blupogu]

This is a fun question, I am perfectly happy with my lovebird and Gcc, i am not looking forward to any addition to my flock in next 20 years.
But both the species fascinated me like forever, I am very curious about the experience of owning both of them,
I know the basics like,
Greys are dusty, while the Amazons are not,
Greys are shy Amazons are outgoing,
Greys are temperamentally stable while Amazons are hormonal and moody,
And lastly it would definitely be wrong for me to say Greys are more intelligent then Amazons, I'd better say more research has been done on Grey than any other bird ever.
Inputs from people like @Greycloud , ho have owned both, would be highly appreciated.
I know many others own both the species too, but As far as remembering goes only that name came to mind, whos having multiple Greys and Multiple Amazons.

 

[Greycloud]

Good questions. I will get back to you soon. It takes a while for me to type as I had surgery on my hand.

 

[Blupogu]

OMG.....take care @Greycloud ....i didnt know....
Take care....Get well soon.....
Wish you a speedy speedy recovery

 

[Sadieladie1994]

Greys talk better. Amazons sing better.

 

[Theresa]

Greys are dusty, while the Amazons are not,

My Greys might be more dusty, but when Olivia is molting I deal with an explosion of fluffies and feather sheath dust!

Greys are shy Amazons are outgoing,

It's the opposite here, Olivia is shy and Corkey and Lucy are social butterflies!

Greys are temperamentally stable while Amazons are hormonal and moody,

Olivia is my sweetest most stable temperament bird, she's the ONLY one I trust 100% not to bite me!
Corkey and Lucy are VERY sassy, and can and have changed on a dime over some perceived wrong on my or my husbands part

And lastly it would definitely be wrong for me to say Greys are more intelligent then Amazons, I'd better say more research has been done on Grey than any other bird ever.

That's only true if you're judging intelligence by talking ability, and even then it would be a hit or miss! My best talker is the Sennie!

 

[Clueless]

I can only couch for amazons. I LOVE them.

I would remind you that it is easy to read their body language with the pinning eyes.

 

[iamwhoiam]

I went back and forth with this several years go and wound up with an Amazon. Just turned out that he was somewhere I was. Another time I had the choice between a Grey and a Bare-eyed and I got the Bare-eyed. I don't know why I didn't get the Grey because once again I had that choice and passed on it. Best of luck with your decision. I know that Greys are generally better talkers than Amazons but Greys may be prone to plucking and more easily stressed. However this is just a generalization since all birds are individuals.

 

[pajarita]

They are completely different but I like both species... only for different reasons. I like Amazons because they are 'easy' (great eaters, bathers, relatively independent and bond very well with any other amazon). I like grays because they are sweet-tempered and empathetic.

 

[Greycloud]

my zon girls are just 6 1/2 yrs old. without labeling them, they do not have any hormonal behaviors with each other or people. they were raised together from young chicks, though not sisters. my friend who raised them did a wonderful job socializing them. they will go to absolutely any one. i agree with pajarita's post about zons. now don't get me wrong there are zons that behave differently. mine are females, playful, piggies, love to bath, fly and yes, they can be stubborn in a naughty way but not aggressive. they can be loud at normal times. breakfast and dinner but that is all.
my greys are very independent. they don't mind being out and not having direct interaction with me. yet, they love me and love head scritches. keene is my cuddle bug, but i know holiday is responsible for bringing her out of her shell. my greys tend to be verbally demanding. asking to eat, asking to be covered, asking to come out. they can get loud with their sound effects at times, but we rarely notice. they are not as accepting of other people as my zons are. they tolerate baths, are good eaters but prefer more shreddable toys and bells compared to the zons that like woods. all my greys are sweet. dexter is the only one who won't let mike pet her. sunshine is the only one who will let mike hold her.

 

[Blupogu]

wow....thank you all for your inputs....
it seems amazon aggresion is readable by the prior body language...and they are comparetively easy on the keeping side....greys are good too....they can be cuddly and affectionate
and its so wrong to generalize.....and read charecter s
traits before getting a new parrot.....it seems the do not conform to the list many a times....
I dnt know, if i plan to get a parrots 20 yrs from now, i guess will go for an Amazon.....

 

[Greycloud]

I always say, each parrot is an individual within it's own species.

 

[dolldid]

I have never had a gray but my amazon is to me special and can be demanding if you don't understand what he wants,,lol like you busy not paying him any mind he will make sure you now he wants something like a bath he will sit in the bathroom and squak till you go in and soak him but if after a few aquakes he screams,,lol he is lovable cudely but on his terms and that could be for days at a time but aways making sure your in his site,,lol don't go in to bathroom or bed room with out telling him cause he will holler till you tell him to come he is a picky eater guess I did that,,lol trying to change that
he loves every one but will chase me out of room if he thinks im in danger lol but will stay with the company that has come

he is a shoulder bird but I do not recommend it , he has proven to be a great compamion bird cage totally free has respected the home never has ever destroyed a thing

have I ever regreted him being an AMAZON NEVER
I am sure many AMAZON owners on here agree that I have been very lucky having such a great AMAZON as he excepts many things most birds wouldn't from there owner,,lol hes very easy to read shows respect and demands respect it is like having a child one that can charm you in to anything but also have a tantrum,,lol
hope this helps

 

[melissasparrots]

I only have amazons. For a long time I thought I'd be an african grey person and researched them pretty heavily and interacted with some. I still think I want a timneh someday. It just so happened that I responded to an ad for an amazon and ended up taking her home and falling in love. Previously, I'd sworn up and down that I would not have an amazon since they are so nasty. Now, I love them. I think from reading the interaction style people have with their greys and their amazons, a person might be tempted think they are similar. Both have members of the species that are cuddly. Both have members that are mostly hands off. Both can give a nasty bite. Both can talk well. I think the difference comes down to more the flavor of interaction you are likely to have with the bird. An amazons would LOVE it if you sang to them, danced around, were super dramatic, talked loud. Of course, all those things are likely to get them so riled up they might bite, but the bird would think its totally awesome. New, people, super cool for a well socialized amazon. Maybe so super cool they get a little out of control.
Compare with a typical grey and they might be less than thrilled with loud voices and fast hand movements. A bite from a grey in a similar situation might be more from fear or defensiveness rather than aggression or over excitement. You may have the same end result(bleeding finger) but the motivation and character of the bird that led to that bite will be different. If you are ever tempted to get one of those species, you might try visiting some breeders and rescues. Recently weaned baby greys are often snugly. Recently weaned baby amazons are already wanting to rough house and seriously push the boundaries. A baby amazon can be harder to get along with at 6 months old than it will be at 6 years. With greys, the trend might be reversed a little bit. Although after a few years, the general tendency might be that both species are happy being close to you, with frequent scritches and maybe/maybe not the occasional cuddle depending on the bird.

 

[dolldid]

ANY SPECIE CAN ATTACK YOU AND IF YOU NOW HOW THEY ARE WITH THERE MATE IN THE WILD IT HELPS TO UNDER STAND THEM

MNGO HAS ATTACKED ME WHEN COMPANY HAS CHANGED THERE TONE IN VOICE HE WANTS ME TO LEAVE THE ROOM NOT THE COMPANY THEY CAN STAY HAS SHOWN THAT BU FLYING BACK TO THEM BUT WILL KEEP ATTACKING ME ME TILL I REMOVE MY SELF FROM THE ROOM IT CAN HAPPEN IF COMPANY TALK USING HAND MOVEMENTS AND IS CLOSE TO ME IF HE THINKS I AM IN ANY DANGER HE ATTACKS HE ALSO SHOWS WHEN HE DISAPROVES OF WHAT IM DOING LIKE DRESSED TO GO OUT LOL HE WANTS ME HOME I FOUND WAYS TO WORK AROUND IT AND IT HAS PASSED BUT IT TOOK NOWING HIM UNDERSTANDING HIM BUT NOT HAVING FEAR OF HIM I ALSO I SHOWHEN DISAPROVEOF HIS ACTIONS I YEL; SCOLD SHACK MY FINGER AT HIM BUT NOT WHEN HE HAS ATTACKED CAUSE OF DANGER I LEAVE THE ROOM THE COMPANY TAKES HIM TO HIS CAGE HE GOES IN AND IM BACK IN ROOM

I ALSO FROUND LETTING THE LARGER BIRDS BY NOT TOUCHING THEM WHEN I GET THEM LET THEM BE LET THEM WANT ME AS MUCH AS I WANT THEM LET THEM CHOSE THE TIME AND PLACE

AMAZONS ARE VERY SMART BIRDS THEY ARE TRACHERS BUT YOU FIRST HAVE TO RESPECT THEM AND IN DOING SO THEY WILL RESPECT YOU
MY RULE IS DONT DO ANY THING TO THEM YOU WOULDNT WANT DONE TO YOU STAND ON YOUR BIRD PLACE BY DOING THIS YOU WILL LEARN WHAT NOT TO DO
EVERY THING YOU ARE GOING TO TRY ASK YOUR SELF HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF SOME ONE CAME IN TO YOUR HOME AND DID THAT TO YOU AS A HUMAN HOW WOULD YOU REACT
I ALWAYS WANTED A GRAY FOR WRONG REASON IT TALKS AND A MACAW FOR SIZE AND COLOR WRONG REASON THEN IT WAS JUST WANTING ANY PARROT RIGHT REASON

 

[parrotlover4]

I dont really like amazons to be honest. They have really strong bites and as much as im not afraid of beaks the amazon is know to be the most bitey. Not to mention tje term nailed. I love greys and am considering adopting one. They are however the most intelligent parrot ever. They are more prone to behavior problems. I dont care about talking. Most parrots dont talk.

 

[Gypsy]

I own an amazon. I prefer them because they seem to be more forgiving of new situations. I have seen more greys plucked than an amazon. Also I do not think my family could handle all the sounds that a grey would mimic. My amazon talks but is quiet most of the day.

 

[dolldid]

I dont really like amazons to be honest. They have really strong bites and as much as im not afraid of beaks the amazon is know to be the most bitey. Not to mention tje term nailed. I love greys and am considering adopting one. They are however the most intelligent parrot ever. They are more prone to behavior problems. I dont care about talking. Most parrots dont talk.

an AMAZON gives warnings most times befor bitting the warnings are very clear . even being nailed they warn AMAZON I THINK IS THE EASEST BIRD TO READ

AND AS FAR AS INTELLIGENT IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR MEANING THEY DONT HAVE TO TALK OR DO TRICKS TO BE INTELLIGENT YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW YOUR BIRD ITS THE HUMAN THAT HAS TO HAVE INTELLIGANCE TO UNCER STAND THE BIRD ,,LOL

 

[parrotlover4]

an AMAZON gives warnings most times befor bitting the warnings are very clear . even being nailed they warn AMAZON I THINK IS THE EASEST BIRD TO READ

AND AS FAR AS INTELLIGENT IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR MEANING THEY DONT HAVE TO TALK OR DO TRICKS TO BE INTELLIGENT YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW YOUR BIRD ITS THE HUMAN THAT HAS TO HAVE INTELLIGANCE TO UNCER STAND THE BIRD ,,LOL

Okay. Thank you. I have not done much reasearch on amazons. I should have done reaserch before posting.

 

[macawpower58]

I had a Timneh for several years, she was a rescue that was phobic a bit, and never bonded with me. She did not speak but a word or two. I could scritch her head, but that's all she would allow. I rehomed her and she's now the darling of her home, speaking and allowing cuddles. Perhaps any bird is what you make of them? Maybe if I'd of tried harder? Or perhaps she wanted to be an 'only' bird. She is now.

I've had my Mealy Amazon for about 16 years or so. He's your typical Amazon. I love him to death too. He's funny, feisty, and an easy keeper. Loves to eat, loves to chew wooden toys to splinters. Is not cuddly (hugging him would earn me an astounded offensive look) but he does enjoy leaning his head against me and getting scritches. He's loud. Very loud! He can bite but seldom does, the few times I've been nailed are my own stubborn fault. He's plainly told me I was asking for it, and he gave it to me. He's a blast to watch, and loves music. Loves to sing and dance birdy style.

He's not the smartest marble in the bag, but he's got a character that outshines any genius bird. He's a keeper, and has made me value the Amazons for the special birds they are.

 

[melissasparrots]

Also wanted to say I strongly suspect african greys are the smarter species. Amazons have many fine qualities and they can learn to talk in context. I have one young male that say's "scratches" when he wants scratches or when I'm about to give him scratches. If I stub my toe, the amazons will beat me to the grunt and grumbling sound effects and then ask "Are you Ok?" However, amazons tend not to be big problem solvers like cockatoos and greys can be. Mine struggle with the more complex foraging toys that the cockatoos love and I bet greys would love to. If my amazons can't figure out a foraging toy in short order, they either get bored and give up, or it turns into a wrestling toy. The cockatoos will persist and figure it out. In terms of smarts, I think cockatoos and greys are tops. But, I'm not sure being a little less intelligent makes them less desirable pets. Their emotional needs are simpler and easier to meet. And they can be very devoted, totally awesome pets. My 9 year old female nape is one of my top two favorite birds in the house. She's just a rock solid, good bird.