" E. Timneh vs. E. Erithacus?
Let's face it, everyone wants an African Grey and I know why. They're both beautiful, and intelligent. The only parrot in the world with that color scheme. African Greys are known for their superb talking ability, this applies equally to the Timneh as well as the Erithacus. Erithacus have always been more abundantly offered for resale in the pet trade and in the past imported more frequently.
The differences between the two are in outward appearances and price wise only. The Timneh is smaller, about 12" and comes from the western regions of Africa. They are underrated as pets. The overall color is a darker grey with a maroon tail and a two tone beak. Whereas the Erithacus is larger, about 13", about 200 grams heavier, and about $300-400 more expensive. They come from equatorial Africa. They are also known as Ghanas, Cameroons, Jockos or Congos. They have the lighter grey body color, red tail and totally black beak.
Both have good talking capabilities if purchased young. If you purchase an older Grey that does not talk, in all probabilities in the future it won't. They are extremely intelligent and require lots of mental stimulation, high strung, perceptive, suspicious, nervous at times and long lived.
The eye color denotes age, the darker the eye color the younger the bird. Some problems that may be encountered with these birds are feather plucking, hypocalcemia syndrome, and Beak and Feather disease.
These birds are year round breeders and prolific. They are normally not loud. Remember, I said normally. I have one wild caught male that constantly growls and that sound sends me up a tree. You would think after so many years in captivity, never being abused, having everything a bird could want, he would settle down, but I guess that is why a domestic bred handfed baby is the way to go if you want a pet.
I have found that even as domestically raised babies that were only handled during their handfeeding period, I can still reach in the pairs cage and the birds will get right up on my hand and want their heads scratched. They are 15 years old now and Have never shown any signs of aggression. I would like to see more people give the Timneh a chance. These birds are in desperate need of breeding programs. Not many were imported or bred due to the popularity of the Congo. Everyone focused on the Congo and forgot the Timneh. Hopefully in the future we will see more Timnehs in aviculture and peoples homes. Believe me there is no difference in the two besides the outward appearance. Remember beauty is only skin deep!