It may not be the most colorful parrot, but it is one of the most intelligent on the planet. The African grey parrot lives in the rainforests of central and western Africa, and its red tail is its only touch of color. Its fame comes from its mind. An African grey named Alex, studied for thirty years, learned more than a hundred words and could tell colors, shapes and quantities apart. And studies show that African greys are capable of helping others without expecting anything in return. In the wild they do not imitate people: they imitate other sounds of the forest and communicate with their flock, which can gather thousands of birds at dusk. Unfortunately, this intelligence has made it one of the most trafficked birds in the world, and today it is endangered. That is why a parrot should never be bought without a guaranteed legal origin.