(also gray parrot, Psittacus erithacus], a bird of the order Psittaciformes. It is about 30 cm long, with gray plumage and a bright red tail. African grays are found in the forests of equatorial Africa, nesting in the hollows of tall trees; the female usually lays two white eggs. Except for the period of reproduction, African grays gather in large flocks. They feed on fruit and seeds, and flocks of these birds can cause considerable damage to rice and corn fields. The African gray is able to imitate sounds and repeat words and phrases and is frequently kept as a house bird. African grays have been known to live in captivity to an age of over 70 years.