Legal Ownership Guide · CITES Appendix II
Everything you need to know about legal African Grey parrot ownership in the United States — what documents your bird must have and why they matter.
Yes — with proper documentation.
African Grey parrots are legal to own in the United States when they are captive-bred and come with CITES Appendix II documentation confirming that captive status. Wild-caught African Greys cannot be legally imported or sold. Every bird from a legitimate US aviary is captive-bred and fully documented.
According to the CITES Appendix II registry, African Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) have been internationally regulated since 1975. Wild populations have been under Appendix I protection (strictest level) since 2016. Captive-bred birds sold in the US operate under Appendix II regulations, which require documentation but permit legal commercial sale.
The distinction matters: captive-bred = legal to own and trade with documentation. Wild-caught = illegal to import or sell in the US. Documentation is the only proof of which category your bird belongs to.
CITES Appendix II means a species can be commercially traded, but trade must be controlled to prevent unsustainable exploitation. For African Greys, this means:
Wild African Grey populations have declined by over 50% in parts of their range. Key drivers:
Buying from a USDA-licensed captive breeder contributes nothing to wild population decline and everything to sustainable captive breeding.
Every bird from Congo African Greys ships with a complete documentation package. Here's what each document does and why it matters.
Issued by the breeder's USDA-registered aviary. Confirms the bird was born in captivity in the United States from captive-bred parent birds — not imported from Africa. This is the primary legal ownership document.
Protects you from: Wildlife enforcement action, seizure, and being held liable for wild-caught trafficking.
Laboratory-confirmed sex from a certified avian DNA lab. Required because African Grey parrots are not visually sexable by sight alone (unlike some bird species). The certificate includes the lab name, submission date, and confirmed sex — with a sample reference number.
Why it matters: Undocumented sex claims are guesses. DNA sexing is definitive.
Required by federal law for any bird transported across state lines. Issued by an accredited avian veterinarian within 10 days of the shipping or pickup date. Confirms the bird is healthy and free from infectious disease at time of transfer.
Required for: Interstate transport, airline shipping, crossing state borders.
Complete health history from our aviary vet, including all exams during weaning, any treatments administered, weight history, and the pre-sale comprehensive examination results. This file starts your bird's lifelong health record.
Important for: Your new avian vet appointment, insurance claims, and the bird's 40–60 year health history.
Go to aphis.usda.gov and use the Animal Care USDA search to verify the license number is valid and active. The license should match the breeder's name and facility address.
Ask to see sample documentation from a previous bird placement, or confirmation of what documentation you will receive. Legitimate breeders can show you their documentation practices before you commit any funds.
Ask for the name and practice of the avian vet who issues health certificates. You can call the vet to confirm they work with that breeder — a simple verification that takes 2 minutes and tells you a lot.
CITES documentation and health certificates are issued before sale — not after. If a seller says "I'll send the papers once you pay," the papers likely don't exist. Documentation readiness at the time of sale is non-negotiable.
USDA AWA licensed. CITES captive-bred certificate. DNA sexing. Avian vet health records. You receive every document before your bird ships.
Our birds are hand-raised, CITES-documented, and DNA sexed. Reach out to start the conversation — we reply within 24 hours.
$200 deposit reserves your bird · 3-day health guarantee · IATA-compliant shipping nationwide
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