Categories: Pets

Senegal Parrots: A Very Quiet Parrot

Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) Senegal parrots are a little larger than a cockatiel, measuring about nine inches in length, and weighing between four-six ounces. The wild Senegal parrots of Africa live in savannahs and nest in holes in trees, especially in the oil palm. The female lays approximately 2-3 eggs which hatch within 28 days. The babies are covered in a sparse white down and do not open their eyes for at least two to three weeks. The eyes of the baby Senegal are a very dark grey, almost black, which changes to yellow when the bird matures. The young Senegal parrots leave the nest by 12 weeks of age. Wild Senegal parrots are shy and tend to avoid contact with humans. Since they do not tame well, wild Senegal parrots do not make good pets. In Africa, these birds are noted to be an agricultural pest due to the fact that they feed upon millet, corn and peanuts that are left to dry in the sun. All Senegal parrots have grey heads and green bodies, although the belly coloration may differ, (3 subspecies), all the birds display the same type of behavior.

There are three subspecies of the Senegal parrot:

Poicephalus senegalus senegalus: Yellow bellied Senegal Ranges from Southern Mauritania, southern Mali to Guinea and Lobos Island.

Poicephalus senegalus versteri: Red bellied Senegal Ranges from the Ivory Coast, Ghana and East and West Nigeria

Poicephalus sensgalus mesotypus: Orange bellied Senegal Ranges from Eastern and Northeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, and Southwest Chad.

Wild caught captive Senegal parrots have the reputation of being flighty, unpredictable and bite. When the birds were first bred in captivity, the young from such breeding copied the parental behavior and were difficult to handle. Later, Senegal breeders discovered that wild captive Senegal parrots faired better if allowed to chose their own mates; the birds seemed to settle down more so, and took better care of the chicks. If these chicks were handled by humans, at an early age, they lost their shyness and would also make excellent pets. Today, many breeders pull the young parrots for hand feeding guaranteeing a bird that can be easily handled, and becoming an excellent companion bird.

Many veterinarians believe that Senegal parrots are not sexually dimorphic (traits or colorations that determine sex of bird) and that DNA testing is the only way to determine the sex of the Senegal; however, many breeders have a different view, believing that the Senegal parrot can be sexed by:

Males are usually (but not always) heavier and larger than the female.

Females head and beak are smaller than the male.

Under tail covert is yellow in males and a mix of yellow and green or predominately green in females.

The green v shaped pattern of a female is longer than that of a male, and can end between the legs, where as the male’s ends mid chest.

Hand fed Senegal parrots become excellent pets. They are comical in nature, quite inquisitive, and quiet. Although the Senegal has been known to screech at times, they are usually very quiet thus making them an excellent apartment pet. Senegal parrots have been known to learn a few words, and phrases, and some Senegal parrots have been known to develop a huge vocabulary.

Senegal parrots are not difficult to feed and due well with pellets, seed, and a mixture of fresh fruits and vegetables. Feed such vegetables as sweet potatoes, carrots, and green leafy vegetables for vitamin A content. Fruits should include apple, banana, grapes, berries, peaches, and kiwi. Do not give any bird avocados or chocolate it is poisonous, nor should any type of red wood be used in the cage as perches, because of the chewing habits of birds. Red wood contains a chemical which is very toxic to all birds.

I have a pet Senegal, and I would not trade her for the world. She is quite friendly and loves attention, especially having her head scratched, and she will let anyone touch her without attempting to bite. Her name is Emerald or Emmy for short. Emmy was DNA sexed, however the green v-shaped green patch ends between her front legs, and the under tail covert contains a large amount of green. So perhaps the breeders have found a way of determining the sex of these birds without using DNA testing.

Emmy greats me each morning with a very faint hi or hello, then she lowers her head to be scratched. She loves to play dead, and will lay flat on her back in my hand, closes her eyes, hang her head, and stick both feet in the air. She also loves to whisper secrets in my ear; she places her head next to my ear and makes faint sounds. When told to hide, she will sit on my shoulder and hide her head in my hair, however he backside is exposed for all to see.

Emmy is also an escape artist, and waits until I pull her water or food cups to make her break. She waits patiently until I go to the kitchen to get her water and food, then she will open up the cage door or exit through the food and water holders. When I come back to the living room, where I keep her, I find her setting on top of the cage. Next, she plays a game of chase me all over the cage, going up and down each side of the cage , and then across the top. Finally, she tires of the game and lets me pick her up and put her inside the cage.

For anyone who wishes to own a small parrot other than the parakeet or cockatiel, I recommend the Senegal parrot. They are easy to take care of, very quiet, love attention, and will quickly bond with the owner. Senegal’s love to be cuddled and enjoy being tickled, and yet not demanding. Sengal parrots love water, and will frequently crawl in the water dish to bathe, and then emerge looking like drowned rats. The coloration of the green feathers is now brown and the once bright yellow breast is a very drab dirty looking yellow. Because of the bathing habits of the Senegal, it is best to provide a bowl for bathing and a cup for drinking water. Otherwise, expect to change the drinking water quite frequently each day.