Senegal Parrot :
Senegal Parrots are known for their acrobatics, their mischievousness, and their passion!
Poicephalus :
Poicephalus parrots include the Meyer’s, red belly, Jardine’s, Senegal, brown head and uncape parrot.Poicephalus, in general, are not as cuddly as some other medium-sized birds, such as conures, or seize-the day-types like lories and caiques. They tend to be a bit more independent, devoting a good amount of time to playing with their toys and bouncing on their boing perches. They can have intriguing body postures, such as leaning hunched forward on the perch, and can be territorial.
Senegal parrots are the most popular of the Poicephalusparrot species. Their yellow iris gives them a somewhat intense gaze, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it is possessed or aggressive. Senegals can be playful and devoted to their owners.
Red-bellied parrots have a reputation for being sociable, cuddly and excellent talkers. Meyer’s are often categorized as more reserved. Poicephalus can be good talkers if the owner takes the time to teach it key words and phrases. Their vocalizations are comprised of squeaks, chirps and a whistle that can reach high decibels. Teach it a quieter, more acceptable sound. .
Status :
The Poicephalus senegalus is on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species as Least Concern (LC).
Description:
For its size, the Senegal Parrot or Yellow-vented Parrot, appears to have a large beak and head. The head is gray and it has a mostly green body. The breast and belly ranges in color from lime-yellow to deep orange. The body markings form a "V" with a green point running down the breast bone. Under the wing and under the tail, you will see a bright yellow. Juvenile birds have dark brown eyes, while the adult eye color ranges from silvery yellow to orange. The bill is gray and the legs are a brownish color.
Senegal Parrots are about 9 inches in length (23 cm) and weigh between 120 and 170 grams (4.2 – 6.0 ounces). Their life span in the wild is 25 – 30 years. In captivity, they have been known to live as long as 50 years.
There are three subspecies of this parrot and although they do not differ in behaviors, they do differ in the coloring of their vest.
-
Poicephalus s. senegalus (the nominate subspecies) has a yellow vest.
-
Poicephalus s. mesotypus has an orange vest.
-
Poicephalus s. versteri has a deep-orange/red vest.
The Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus, also known as the Yellow-vented Parrot, is a charming and very trainable small parrot. They have the big bird personality in a little bird body. Being cuddly and adapting easily to their environment, they make endearing pets. Senegals are great sources of companionship and amusement for their owners.
The Senegal is an interesting bird that likes routine and becomes accustomed to the habits of its owners. Plan on spending an hour or so a day in some type of interaction with this little guy as he is a social creature. Whether that is in front of the TV or at meals, it makes no difference. Senegals can frequently become very attached to their human mate and have been known to become quite possessive and jealous. In order to avoid this, early socialization with all members of the home is required.
Senegal Parrots are probably the most popular of the Poicephalus parrots, which includes the Meyer's Parrot, Red-bellied Parrot, and Jardine's parrots. They are also much quieter birds than many of the smaller, more colorful and popular parrots, like the Conures in the Aratinga genus. For this reason they make ideal pets for apartment or condominium living or just for the owner who prefers more peace.
Senegal Parrots learn human speech quite easily. Their voices are softer and gentler than their larger African cousins like the African Grey. They usually acquire a moderate vocabulary although some can have a more extensive list of words and phrases. Most will develop an understanding of several common phrases like "step up". Of course the best way to teach a parrot to talk is to talk to your parrot.
Scientific name :
Poicephalus senegalus
Distribution :
The Senegal Parrot or Yellow-vented Parrot Poicephalus senegalus was first described by Linnaeus in 1766. They can be found across a wide range of West Africa. They migrate within West Africa based on availability of food which consists of fruits, seeds and blossoms. They will raid ripening millet and maize crops, attack harvested peanuts and they love figs. They are highly social and live in flocks. There are three subspecies of Senegal:
-
Subspecies: Poicephalus senegalus senegalus - Senegal Parrot (the nominate subspecies)
-
Subspecies: Poicephalus senegalus mesotypus - Orange-Bellied Senegal Parrot
-
Subspecies: Poicephalus senegalus versteri - Senegal Parrot Versteri
Care and feeding:
In the wild the Senegal parrots eat seeds, nuts, berries and fruit. They love millet, corn and figs. For your pet, ready made name brand seed mixes are usually available at your local pet store or super market. These contain a mixture of canary grass seed, white millet, yellow millet, oats and groats and red millet, niger seed and linseed. Some higher quality seed mixtures come with thistle, anise, rape, sesame, and safflower seed. Vitamin pellets with iodine in them are sometimes present to prevent thyroid problems. Pellet mixes are also available. Store seed in a dark but airy place. Don't use plastic bags, cloth bags work better.
Additionally, your Senegal can eat anything nutritious that you eat. Offer fresh foods such as eggplant, green peas, cucumber, young dandelion greens, sweet corn, beet greens, carrots, unsprayed lettuce, green peppers, sorrel, spinach leaves, tomatoes and zucchini. Fruits that are suitable are: Pineapples, apples, apricots, bananas, most other fruits. Don't feed your bird chocolate or avocados. These foods have been implicated in the death of many birds and should not be fed to Senegals.
Housing :
Provide a roomy cage with the minimum dimensions of 2 feet by 2 feet and 3 feet high. These little guys do not do well in a closed in space. They need room and they need toys. They enjoy playing and climbing. A cage with horizontal bars about 3/4 inches apart makes climbing easier. It has been observed that wooden toys are favorites of Senegal's. Wooden ladders, chew toys, and wooden hanging toys seem to be preferred, most anything made of wood.
You can also attach a perch/play area on top of the cage. In the cage have about three perches of different diameters (or branches with some angling) without the sandpaper guards. Swings are a favorite and bells along with plenty of chew toys.
Maintenance :
The basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Weekly you should wash all the perches and dirty toys, and the floor should be washed about every other week. A total hosing down and disinfecting of an aviary should be done yearly, replacing anything that needs to be freshened, such as old dishes, toys and perches.
Social Behaviors:
In the wild, the Senegal Parrot is generally seen singly or in pairs although there are frequently in larger parties of 10 – 20 when food is plentiful. They are a gregarious species and constantly chatter to each other with a range of whistles and calls. They migrate in large flocks to take advantage of ripening crops of millet and maize or other food sources. They are not aggressive unless you would say the male is aggressive during breeding season when he is protecting his mate and chicks from predators. Normally, they just get along with everyone.
Handling/Training :
You should give a new arrival a few days to get use to you, your voice and its cage before trying to handle it. A hand fed baby will not need much taming and can often be handled right away, but be patient and go slow. Allow them to hear your voice, get the scent of you.
Remember that taming and training a bird takes patience, never 'punish' your pet! This only serves to destroy the trust you've spent so much time building. For more information on training your parrot, see Parrots: Handling/Training.
Activities :
The Senegal is quite content to play with his toys. They love playing and climbing. They need wooden toys to chew on and welcome new things to play with.
Sexing - Sexual Differences :
Many breeders can accurately determine the sex of these parrots by sight and behavior. However, they have a lot of experience and usually a lot of birds. It is said the male is slightly larger and heavier and it is said the male is a little bolder. The only accurate way to determine if you have a male or female is through DNA sexing.
Breeding/Reproduction :
In the wild breeding takes place toward the end of the rainy season which occurs in the fall from September to November in Africa. Senegal Parrots nest in a hollow tree at a considerable height from the ground. The female lays 3 – 4 eggs and the female incubates the eggs starting after the second egg is laid. They hatch out approximately 27 – 28 days later and will fledge around 12 weeks of age.
It is believed the Senegals mature at approximately 4 years, although some will not breed until they are 6 – 7 years old. They are relatively easy to breed in captivity and require a nest box that is 18 inches high and 10 inches square. Suitable nest-box litter would be decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings, peat mixture, or other suitable materials. If they are to be bred in captivity they should be provided a spacious aviary with non-toxic leafy branches for perching and entertaining. Chewing these branches will minimize boredom and give the birds some beak exercise. There is no reason not to put toys in their aviary.
Potential Problems :
A Senegal Parrot parrot that is well cared for will seldom become ill. Though it is often difficult to determine illness, some visible signs of illness to be aware of are:
-
ruffled plumage
-
listlessness
-
drooping wings
-
sagging body
-
extreme mood changes
-
having no appetite
-
bulges in feathering
-
partially closed or watery eyes
-
swelling of the eyelids
-
rasping
-
difficulty breathing
-
excessive saliva
-
dirty vent
-
any change in the feces not apparently diet related.
Some of the more common illnesses are:
-
Psittacosis (chlamydiosis or parrot fever)
-
bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
-
feather picking (results of boredom, poor diet, sexual frustration, lack of bathing)
-
allergies
-
chewing flight and tail feathers by juveniles
-
beak malformations in chicks
-
Papillomas
-
kidney disease (gout)
-
toxicity
-
heavy metal poisoning
-
lipomas in older birds.
If you notice any of this bird illnesses in your Senegal, immediately provide a warm, draft free, secure environment kept at about 86°F (30°C). Place food and water close to the perch where it is easily accessible. An ailing parrot should be taken to a avian veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Availability
Because of the success in captive breeding Senegal parrots are available and but are moderately expensive.
References
-
Animal-World References: Pet Birds - Exotic Birds
-
Senegal Parrots aka Yellow-vented Parrots, Avian Web
-
Senegal Parrot Information and FAQ, TheParrotForum.com
-
Senegal Parrot, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
-
Joseph M. Forshaw, Parrots of the World, T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 1977.
-
Arthur Freud, All About The Parrots, Howell Book House, 1986.
Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus)
Poicephalus Parrots are small to medium-sized parrots that have robust beak and stocky bodies. They originally came from Africa’s many environments. There are many parrot species belonging to this group including the Senegal Parrot, Brown-headed, Cape/Un-cape, Jardine’s, Meyer’s, Niam-niam, Red-bellied, Ruppell’s and Yellow-faced. The word poicephalus seems to refer to the perplexing head colors of this species that varies with age, sex, subspecies and individual differences.
Poicephalus Parrots as Pets
Poicephalus Parrots are small to medium-sized parrots that have robust beak and stocky bodies. They originally came from Africa’s many environments. There are many parrot species belonging to this group including the Senegal Parrot, Brown-headed, Cape/Un-cape, Jardine’s, Meyer’s, Niam-niam, Red-bellied, Ruppell’s and Yellow-faced. The word poicephalus seems to refer to the perplexing head colors of this species that varies with age, sex, subspecies and individual differences.
The Poicephalus family of parrots generally has a very endearing quality. They possess the potential to make very good, well-socialized pet birds. Poicephalus Parrots are not noisy and raucous and they do not scream for attention. Most are able to talk with some doing so extremely well with a hundred word vocabularies. Their voices are somewhat similar to that of a computer but are very understandable.
Active birds such as the Poicephalus Parrots need a variety of toys for entertainment. Being the only bird in one’s household will work well for them. They do not require having a “buddy” bird for them to be happy.
Even when left alone for much of the day, the Poicephalus Parrot does not show the tendency towards behavior problem. This does not mean to say that they do not need interaction with their owners. Like all other parrots, they do. They just happen to be more patient than the other parrot species. Interacting time with their keeper should be done on a regular basis even if it is only upon the return of the owner from work. A neglected Poicephalus will become cage bound and anti-social.
The diet of a Poicephalus Parrot should contain a limited seed mix of both small and large seeds. It should also be supplemented with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. A good diet, fresh air, adequate room to exercise plus a happy environment spells the difference in keeping the birds healthy.
The Senegal Parrot is the most popular among those included in the Poicephalus group. As pets, Senegal Parrots are very charming, affectionate and funny. The ability to learn words ranges from a few words to a large vocabulary. Most people describe them as intense and love the fact that their owners love them. Senegal Parrots thinks that the world revolves around them. They have certain episodes of sudden freak-outs where they become very fearful. No logical explanation has been arrived at to explain this particular behavior.
Meyer’s Parrots are shy and are not as athletic as some of its related species. They are partial to toys and things that entail work and study along the lines of puzzles. They also enjoy working on knots in rawhide.
The Red-bellied Parrots are the show-offs of the group. They don’t clam-up even in front of strangers and will talk and jabber endlessly. However, they have a reputation for being on the nippy side.
The Jardine’s Parrots are considered the amazons of the Poicephalus minus the screaming and mating aggression. They are able to entertain themselves for hours and exhibit much joy in constant play. Cape Parrots, on the other hand, are very gentle and affectionate birds that are often likened to a Cockatoo.
There is not one specific Poicephalus species that can be considered more preferable than the other. It is really a matter of personal wants or likes. Owning a Poicephalus Parrot can be a good start-off in a bird owner’s learning experience.
Poicephalus- Cage :
Poicephalus parrots need a lot of space to be happy. The smallest cage you can buy is 24 x 24 x 40, though even medium sized birds will need something as roomy as 36 inches in length, 24 inches in width, and 52 inches in height. Get one with a big door if you have Jardines. The bars should be less than one inch apart, so there’s no risk of the birds getting their heads stuck between them.
Poicephalus Cage-Shape
Avoid cages with curlicue designs. The curves can snap off under heavy chewing, and poicephalus parrots have very strong beaks. There have also been cases of tail feathers getting caught into them.
It’s also better to get a rectangular or square cage. Birds need to have a corner they can retreat to when they are scared. Being in a round cage is the equivalent of being trapped in an open field—there’s no where to go, and they’ll always be checking for any signs of “predators”. This can exacerbate the poicephalus parrots’ already nervous dispositions.
Poicephalus Cage-Cleaning
Get a cage with a pull out tray, so you can easily throw away droppings or food scraps. Some specialty cages will even have a roll of heavy duty paper, so you just have to tug at the end. Never remove the grid that separates the cage floor from the tray. It will prevent your pet from eating food that’s come into contact with the droppings.
Clean the cage thoroughly at least once a week, scrubbing the bars and the perches. Stainless steel is easy to clean. Don’t get wooden trays, which absorb moisture and smell, and get warped when wiped with a damp cloth.
Poicephalus Cage-Room for Play
You need at least 3 perches for the cage. Many parrot aficionados say that wooden branches from your own back yard are even better than the ones you can buy from the store. Just make sure that they are thick enough for your pet to stand on them without its claws turning inward. Remove traces of chemical fertilizers or insecticides by soaking the branches in a mild bleach solution, or heating them in the oven at 400 F for 20 minutes.
Parrots also tend to prefer cages with horizontal rather than vertical bars because they can climb. It’s also easier to hang toys or accessories.
When you buy cages, try to visualize how much room will be left after you’ve put the perches, the toys, and the feeding dishes.
Poicephalus-Breeding :
The poicephalus parrots are generally good breeders, and a good pair can produce as many as nine chicks a season. They should be healthy, checked by a veterinarian, and show all the signs of happy and robust birds: shiny feathers, alert eyes, normal beak growth, and clean bottom. To be safe, it’s better to breed birds that you raised yourself. If you bought them, it’s important to quarantine them until they get a veterinarian’s clearance. This will prevent them from introducing any diseases to the others.
Generally you want to preserve the parents’ good qualities while weeding out the bad ones. So if any of the breeders have any genetic mutations, they should be matched with another bird that can balance it off.
Don’t mix pairs. Males can get aggressive and territorial, and you may have to break up a fight and get bitten or clawed for your reward!
You will need to get a nesting box, fill it with nesting material, and give your birds only the highest quality pellets and seeds so they can provide nutrients to their eggs, and then their hatchlings. Some birds will soil the material, so check regularly and provide fresh pine shavings or sticks.
However, there are other considerations that many amateur breeders overlook. First of all, you may need to look at your property’s zoning restrictions. You will need to place your nesting boxes outside, and not all communities allow outside aviaries or breeding activities.
Your neighbors may also be the type who’d complain about the noise. Not only can parrots get noisy when they’re courting, but the combined sound of the parents and about 4 or 5 hatchlings can drive even the most dedicated owners crazy sometimes. Think about how they’d feel, and whether or not they’d find it amusing, annoying, or worth a signed petition to kick you out of the neighborhood.
Responsible breeders should also think about the future of the hatchlings. Unless you’re going to keep all of them, can you foresee a demand for them, and are you sure they will have good homes?
Lastly, you have to look at the time required. If you will be hand feeding the hatchlings, you will have to make a mash and feed them at least every three hours. You will also need to check them regularly for signs of neglect. Some birds will abandon their nests or simply refuse to take care of their young. You will have to step in and become the foster mommy.
Poicephalus Species :
1- Brown-Headed Parrot birds :
Scientific Name: Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
Size: 8.5 to 9 inches
Native Region: Southeastern Africa
Life Expectancy: Can live up to 30 years
Noise Level: Quiet
Talk/Trick Ability: Moderate talking ability; good at mimicking sounds and whistles; good trick ability
Brown-Headed Parrot Species Profile:
Traits: Brown-headed parrots are generally docile birds that are affectionate, yet do not crave attention as some other parrot species do. They are outgoing and tend to become more independent as they reach maturity at 2 to 3 years of age. The brown-headed parrot has a playful nature that is entertaining.
Behavior/Health Concerns: Brown-headed parrots are heavier than other parrots; therefore, care needs to be taken if the pet bird owner decides to trim the bird's wing feathers. If the wing feathers are trimmed too much, the brown-headed parrot can fall to the ground, potentially injuring or breaking its chest bone. Trimming only enough to allow the bird to glide to the floor is a good option. These active birds require as large a cage as possible as well, as toys and stimulation in and out of the cage.
2-Grey-Headed Parrot
Scientific Name: Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus
Size: 13.5 inches
Native Region: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, northern Botswana and northern Namibia to Angola, southern Zaire and central Tanzania
Life Expectancy: 40 years
Noise Level: Moderate
Talk/Trick Ability: Excellent
3-Meyer's Parrot
Scientific Name: Poicephalus meyeri
Size: Small, 8 inches
Native Region: Africa
Life Expectancy: up to 50 years
Noise Level: Moderate
Talk/Trick Ability: Moderate, but not the best talker.
Grey-Headed Parrot Species Profile :
Traits: Grey-headed parrots are sometimes known as Cape parrots, unCape parrots and brown-necked parrots. The grey-headed parrot is a subspecies of the brown-necked parrot, Poicephalus fuscicollis (it is generally believed by experts that the brown-necked parrot is not found in U.S. aviculture). The grey-headed parrot is the largest Poicephalus parrot.
The grey-headed parrots' intelligence and vocal ability has been compared to that of the African grey parrots. The grey-headed parrot has a light silvery colored head and its bib is less pronounced than the brown-necked parrot. Grey-headed parrots are extremely intelligent birds that can learn to speak very well. Although their large, powerful beaks are capable of cracking any nut, those who own grey-headed parrots as a pet note that they very rarely bite and are great companion pet birds.
Behavior/Health Concerns: Grey-headed parrots are quite large, and needed large living spaces and plenty of opportunity for exercise. Grey-headed parrots need plenty of bird-safe toys and materials to keep them entertained.
Jardine's Parrot Species Profile :
Traits: Jardine’s parrots are quite acrobatic and enjoy entertaining their owners with newly devised tricks. They’re also highly intelligent and benefit from frequent interaction with their humans. Jardine’s parrots are known for getting involved in games of hide and seek and have been seen using newspaper covering the bottom of their cage to hide under or roll into a tube for hiding. These playful pet birds can be tricksters, twisting themselves into odd positions or lying on their backs in the cage to get a reaction from the owner. When a Jardine’s parrot sees its owner watching them play, they will often begin playing even more to entertain or convince the owner to get involved in their fun. Jardine’s parrots are said to have the comical, playful and animated personality of larger parrots, but without the cost, mess or noise typically associated with bigger pet parrots.
Behavior/Health Concerns: Jardine's parrots love to talk, and its mimicking ability is close to an African grey's. They have a pleasant voice, and are gifted whistlers. Jardine's parrots are known for staying motionless, but get rowdy during playtime. They also go through a nipping stage when they are young, but with proper handling and training, owners can minimize the "teething" as their birds mature. A Jardine's parrot's beak can become overgrown, so provide plenty of wood and other hard toys to chew on. Poicephalus parrots thrive on a pellet-based diet along with fresh fruits, vegetables and greens.
Meyer's Parrot Species Profile :
Traits: Although not as active as other Poicephalus parrots, the Meyer’s parrot is popular due to its easy-going personality. Described as a “go with the flow” parrot, Meyer’s parrots are not as active or athletic as other Poicephalus. They are considered more pet birds. The Meyer’s parrot likes a challenge, so it will interactive toys such as puzzles toys and foraging toys. Meyer’s parrots have the comical, playful and animated personality of larger parrots, but without the cost, mess or noise typically associated with bigger pet parrots.
Behavior/Health Concerns: Meyer's parrots are mellow and will easily interact with all members of the family. They are not great talkers and are actually considered one of the quitest parrots without making particularly loud calls. Meyer's parrots' beaks can become overgrown, so provide plenty of hard toys and wood for them to chew on. They also tend to gain excessive weight. Provide your Meyer's with a healthy diet consisting of pellets, fresh fruit, vegetables and greens.
4-Red-Bellied Parrot:
Scientific Name: Poicephalus rufiventris
Size: 8 to 9 inches
Native Region: Africa
Life Expectancy: 35 years
Noise Level: Low
Talk/Trick Ability: Good, can learn sounds and instinctively makes sounds as well.
Priam Psittaculture Centre (PPC) Meyer's Parrots
Red-Bellied Parrot Species Profile
Traits: Those who favor the Red-bellied parrot believe it is more social and a better talker than other Poicephalus parrots. These birds have been described as being the life of the party. They are spunky and active birds that often dominate other birds around them. Red-bellied parrots are show off's in front of company. Unlike some parrots that clam up, this bird will jabber on in front of strangers. Red-bellied parrots have the comical, playful and animated personality of larger parrots, but without the cost, mess or noise typically associated with bigger pet parrots.
Behavior/Health Concerns: Red-bellied parrots tend to be more shy and reguarly like to find places to hide in their cage. Like the Jardine's, they are known as prolific talkers. Juvenile red bellies are brown and turn bright red-orange as they grow older. They become sexually dimorphic as they mature Adult red-bellied males have a deep orange breast, abodomen and wing coverts. Females have a wash of iridescent red highlights over green on the breast and abdomen. Poicephalus parrots thrive on a pellet-based diet along with fresh fruits, vegetables and greens.
5- Senegal Parrot
Scientific Name: Poicephalus senegalus
Size: Small, up to 9 inches
Native Region: Africa
Life Expectancy: up to 50 years
Noise Level: Low
Talk/Trick Ability: Fair; soft-spoken
Priam Psittaculture Centre Red-bellied Parrots (Poicephalus rufiventris) priam.com.au
Senegal Parrot Species Profile :
Traits: Senegal parrots are affectionate and need enough attention to keep them from getting bored, but is independent enough to spend time on a playgym. Senegal owners find their birds to be smart, loving as well as strong-minded. Around the house, the Senegal parrot is a curious creature that closely observes the activities taking place around. Senegal parrots are known to display their intelligence in different ways, with some of them demonstrating it by figuring their way out of a cage while others express their smarts verbally. Senegal parrots have the comical, playful and animated personality of larger parrots, but without the cost, mess or noise typically associated with bigger pet parrots.
Behavior/Health Concerns: Senegals are susceptible to overgrown beaks, so provide plenty of hard wooden toys for them to chew on. They also can gain excessive amounts of weight, so their diet should consist of pellets, fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Senegal parrots fiercely love their owners and show their affection by burrowing and cuddling with them. To keep the Senegal parrot from being friendly with just one person and snapping at others, be sure to socialize it with everyone in the family. Do not allow courtship behaviors and let the person who the bird does not favor as much provide its favorite treats. Stick training is also important for a Senegal parrot so it will step onto a stick or hand-held perch for every member of the family.
Priam Psittaculture Centre Senegal Parrots (Poicephalus senegalus) priam.com.au
6-Cape Parrot :
Scientific Name: Poicephalus robustus
Size:
Native Region: South Africa.
Life Expectancy:
Noise Level:
Talk/Trick Ability:
Cape Parrot Species Profile :
The Cape parrot (Poicephalus robustus) or Levaillant's parrot is a large, temperate forest dwelling Poicephalus parrot endemic to South Africa. It was formerly grouped as a subspecies (along with the savanna-dwelling brown-necked parrot (P. fuscicollis fuscicollis) and grey-headed parrot (P. f. suahelicus)) but is now considered a distinct species.
7- Jardine's Parrot :
Scientific Name: Poicephalus gulielmi
Size: Medium, 16 inches
Native Region: Central Africa
Life Expectancy: 15 to 30 years
Noise Level: Moderate
Talk/Trick Ability: Fair, good mimic
Ruppell's Parrot Species Profile :
Traits: Generally quieter than other parrots in the Poicephalus genus, Ruppell's parrots that have been kept as pets are loveable, cuddly and tend to bond very closely with one person, to the point of being jealous when others show affection to that person. They are reported to be calm, intelligent birds.
Behavior/Health Concerns: In the wild, Ruppell's parrots eat a variety of seeds, plants and insects. They need a large pet bird cage in which to exercise and freely move around, as well as safe pet bird toys for chewing and foraging.
8-Niam Niam Parrot :
Scientific Name: Poicephalus crassus
Size: 9.75 inches
Native Region: Central Africa
Life Expectancy: Not known
Noise Level: In the wild, calls are very sharp and can be high-pitched when the parrot is alarmed.
Talk/Trick Ability: Not known
Niam Niam Parrot Species Profile :
Traits: Not much is known about the Niam Niam parrot; a captive breeding of the species was recorded in 1981 in Mozambique. Information on how this species would be as a pet is not available at this time. Its availability and sustainability as a pet has been compared to that of the yellow-faced parrot.
Behavior/Health Concerns: According to a report that describes four Niam Niam parrots that were obtained in 1967, the birds were very nervous and banana leaves were placed around the sides of the aviary for privacy. Because more research on this species needs to be conducted and reported, further information on the Niam Niam parrot's behavior and health is not available at this time.
9-Ruppell's Parrot :
Scientific Name: Poicephalus rueppellii
Size: 8.5 to 9 inches
Native Region: Southwestern Africa
Life Expectancy: Up to 35 years
Noise Level: Quiet
Talk/Trick Ability: Good
Priam Psittaculture Centre (PPC) Jardine's Parrots (Poicephalus gulielmi) priam.com.au
Poicephalus senegalus, 11 months
Senegal Parrot Kenneth First Video (Poicephalus senegalus)