Why is it difficult to estimate the total number of African gray parrots in the wild?

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Close-up of an African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) showing its curved black beak, pale eye, and detailed grey feathers. — African gray parrot African gray parrot (*Psittacus erithacus*).

It is difficult to estimate the total number of African gray parrots in the wild because these birds inhabit isolated and often politically volatile regions, which makes conducting precise population surveys impossible.1

While some estimates in the early 21st century suggested the population could be as high as 13 million, these figures remain difficult to verify due to the logistical and safety challenges of surveying their expansive range across Africa.1