[Pappagallo]

What is the difference between Congo and Timmeh Greys and which is Alex.

Also which of the two subspecies is more common?

Just curious.

[Cosmo & Marti's Mom]

I am not sure which Alex is, just cuz i'm not sure who he is, but if he's like Einsteing the grey, I would assume he's a congo..they are the more popular. They are larger in size, lighter greay and a brighter red tail. thats teh basic differences!

[Carrie~Anne]

Yep, Alex is a Congo African Grey

CAGs are more common, but TAG are becoming more and more popular.

As stated, the major differences are size and colour (CAGs have a bright red tail and a black beak, while TAGs have a maroon coloured tail and their upper mandible is bone coloured).

I know we have CAG and TAG owners on the forum so hopefully they'll come and share their pics to show the difference

[Casey's Mom]

The main difference in their appearance is size and colouring. Congo's are larger and have a bright red colouring on their tail and Timneh's are much smaller with a burgundy colouring on their tail and overall look a little darker. (I really want a Congo! )

 congo.jpg (2.8K)
Number of downloads: 25Congo

 Timneh.jpg (3.06K)
Number of downloads: 25 Timneh

I'm sure the members here who actually own one would be glad to post some pictures.

Not sure who Alex is, but I am assuming he is a Congo because they seem more popular.

[Andie's Mom]

Alex is a Congo African Gray.

The difference in the two species is that The Congo is larger and has a lighter coloring,

The Timneh is substantially smaller and has a dark plumage, it has just as good of ability to talk as the Congo's so I'm told.

Congo's have a bright red tail where as the Timneh has more of a burgandy red colored tail.

The person or people to really ask the differences to would be Dee and Captain Quark, there are numerous others here that have grays as well, but I think CQ has done extensive studies on them So they may be able to give you more info if you so desire.

[QPdad]

It's funny, Einstein is the entertainer and Alex is the "genius".

[Dee]

Yes Alex is CAG ..

As everyone has stated the main differences between the two are colouring and size .. Most would agree that their temperament is pretty much the same .. The congo which is the dominate of the species is the more popular of the two as it has been bred in captivity longer. The TAG is now becoming more popular. There is also a third subspecies that isn't kept as a pet known as princep ..

Perk ... the boy on the left in my signature is a CAG ..

Here is a little more about greys if you are interested ... The pics of the greys rotating through the page linked below are a mix of CAGs and TAGs and once you take a look I'm sure you will be able to pick them out .. The TAGs have the bone coloured upper mandible

An African Grey

[Pappagallo]

Ok, now I get it

[TariAngie]

I have a TAG when I did my research before I got her I found that most people believed Tag's are calmer and less pron to the "grey" phobias.
I was so glad to find that out cause I was terrified of messing up a grey and would never of bought one.
The reason some believe this is true is because Tag's don't take as long to mature. Not sure if that is true and I only have the TAG but she has no phobias. No plucking she is not cage bound and does not bite.
How much of this has to do with her being a TAG, me being lucky or me doing thing right I have no idea.
She is also not as loud and the CAG's I have met but just as smart.

[Dee]

I personally believe that the reason some have noticed the "phobias" more in CAGs then in TAGs is because there are many more CAGs being bred in captibity then TAGs and over the years the weaning process in greys just hasn't been appropriate/suitable and some times undesirable ..

I don't doubt that as TAGs become more popular and the numbers being bred in captivity are much large that if the weaning process doesn't change then you will see the same issues in TAGs ...

You don't see the "phobias" and "plucking" in the wild and you also don't see the "phobias" and "plucking" in wild caught CAGs. You would think that a wild caught would be stressed just by virtue of his/her situation and yet they don't resort to phobias and plucking .. many now believe that he reason this is true is because they are weaned properly by their grey parents ...

Some breeders are now approaching the weaning proceess differently in greys .. they now don't pull them completely however the grey/human parronts share in the weaning process.

A friend of mine breeds CAGs and TAGs .. she abundance weans, fledges and includes the grey parronts in the weaning process, she also has a grey nanny ... her CAGs and TAGs are no different as it relates to temperament/confidence and they are in general going to their forever homes around the same ages ..

[tikileahsmom]

Another difference between the CAG and Tag are, the Tag's have a lighter colored beak. Like a horn color whereas the CAGS beaks are very dark. That's how my 8 year old nephew has learned to tell the difference when he see's pictures of greys in a book, like just the headshot. He can spot the difference in an instant
tikileahsmom