The paper’s authors chose the African grey parrot because of its popularity and described, with excellent references, the common behavior problems of this species in captivity. They also discussed the wild ecology of these birds and related how grey parrots are denied many aspects of natural behavior when in captivity. The authors attempted to correlate this to stress, anxiety, and even the root of behavior problem development. Issues related to socialization, flight, nesting, environmental temperatures and humidity, and cognitive abilities are well linked to aberrant behavior when these birds are kept as pets.
The paper described the link between the rearing method of birds and the development of abnormal behaviors. Information for breeders and owners is described, as are recommendations for clinicians treating parrots. This intelligent, complex, and social species is prone to developing abnormal behaviors in captivity. These issues are likely multifactorial in etiology. Clinicians must consider personality, wild ecology, environment, captive care, hormonal influences, and the potential for medical illness as they each relate to treating and preventing behavior problems in African grey parrots.