Senegal Parrots aka Yellow-vented Parrots
Poicephalus Parrots
Bookmarks on this page:
Are you looking for a Senegal Parrot? Click here for a listing of breeders
The Senegal Parrots is native to West Africa, specifically to Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. Within its natural range, it undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit and blossoms which make up its diet. It is considered a farm pest, often feeding on crop.
The Senegal Parrot is a bird of open woodland and savannah. It nests in holes in trees, often Oil Palms, laying 2-3 white eggs. The eggs are about 3cm long x 2.5cm wide. This is a gregarious species, continuously chattering with a range of whistling and squawking calls.
Senegal Parrots live an average of approximately 25-30 years in the wild, but have been known to live for 50 years in captivity.
There are three generally recognized subspecies. They do not differ in behavior, but only in the color of the "vest." In the pet trade, the nominate subspecies is the most common though all three are raised and sold as pets.
- Senegal Parrot / Poicephalus senegalus senegalus (the nominate subspecies):
- Visual Difference: Yellow vest
- Native Range: southern Mauritania, southern Mali to Guinea and the Island of Los.
- Reichenow's Orange-bellied Parrots / P. s. mesotypus:
- Visual Difference: Orange vest.
- Native Range: eastern and northeastern Nigeria and Cameroon into southwest Chad.
- Red-vented Parrots / P. s. versteri:
- Visual Difference: Red vest.
- Native Range: Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana east to western Nigeria.
The Senegal Parrot is about 9 ins (23 cm) long, plump-looking, and weighs about 125 to 170 g.
Males are generally larger and heavier then female birds. Adults have a charcoal grey head, yellow eyes, green back and throat, and yellow underparts and rump. The yellow and green areas on a Senegal Parrot's front form a V-shape and resemble a yellow vest worn over green. Immature birds are duller, with a lighter grey head and grey eyes.
Senegals are not sexually dimorphic, but there are some hypotheses on how to tell the genders apart; it is thought that a female's beak and head are smaller and narrower than the male's and also, the V-shape of the vest is usually longer in females, so that the green area extends down over the chest to between the legs whereas in males it ends midway down the chest.
Immature birds have a duffer plumage and their irises are dark.
Senegal Parrots as Pets
The Senegal Parrot is the most popular Poicephalus parrot in aviculture, with the Meyers Parrot being the second in line. These mid-sized parrots are curious, fun-loving parrots that are much "mellower" compared with many other parrots. They are appreciated for their playful and curious personality.
Unlike many parrot species, they are not known to be noisy - another factor that attracts people to this species. They are able to speak in a limited fashion - often with a high squeaky voice - and can learn to mimic many sounds, such as phone ringing, whistling, kisses, microwave beeps and smoke alarms.
They are acrobatic, amusing, and generally sweet. These active parrots require a larger cage to allow them to move around and get sufficient exercise. Plenty-out-of-cage time should be provided to socialize this parrot and allow for further opportunities to excercise and explore.
Wild-caught Senegal Parrots do not make good pets, because they do not become tame and they will always be frightened of humans. The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has made the trade of wild caught parrots illegal.
Their life expectancy in a safe home that provides appropriate care can be up to 40 or 50 years. Their captive diet consists of seeds, most fruits and vegetables (click here for more information on nutrition).
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
Senegals are less demanding than other parrot species, which makes them an excellent choice for someone who wants to "step up" from an easy-going and easy-care cockatiel or budgie. Consistent training from a young age is recommended to ensure potential senegal owners enjoy a bird free of destructive and annoying habits.
Behavioral challenges that senegals present include:
- Jealousy / Aggression: The senegals are known for their jealousy of other family members and pets. They can develop a bond with only one human and refuse to interact with other people, even attacking them in some cases. Although a Senegal is a small bird it does not seem to believe so, and will attack larger birds and even dogs if it feels it or its human is threatened. Owners should be cautious in multiple-pet homes. Continuing to socialize the hand reared pet bird from a young age and letting many people handle and interact with it can prevent single-person bonding and allow it to become an excellent family pet.
Continuous obedience training is recommended ...
- AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:
- Procuring your Parrot
- Breeders:
- Ohio, Columbia Station: Dr. Geoff Gammon - Certified Avian Specialist; Forest Park Aviaries, 23879 Royalton Road, Columbia Station, Ohio 44028, Tel: 440-236-6355; websites: http://www.forestparkaviaries.com/ , http://www.birdbreedersinternational.com/index.html, http://www.tropicalbirds.org/, http://www.forestparkaffiliates.com/index.html. Breeder of: Pacific Parrotlets (green, blue, yellow, split mutations); Quaker Parrots (green, blue mutation); Senegal Parrots; and various species of Conures (Suns, Green-cheeks and their several mutations, Brown-throats, Peach-fronts, Cherry-heads, etc.) - Will Ship
- Canada, Saskatchewan: Owner: Gay Noeth - Website: On AfricanWings
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- Click here for more breeders.
- Housing Your Bird
- Training Your Bird
- Bird Nutrition
- Parrot Products
Taxonomy:
Species: Scientific: Poicephalus senegalus senegalus ... English: Senegal Parrot, Yellow-vented Parrot ... Dutch: Bonte Boertje, Senegal Papegaai ... German: Mohrenkopfpapagei ... French: Perroquet du Sénégal
CITES II - Endangered Species
Species: Scientific: Poicephalus versteri ... English: Red-vented Parrot ... Dutch: Finsch' Roodbuikpapegaai ... German: Finschs Mohrenkopfpapagei ... French: Perroquet de Verster
Description: As senegalus above, but green to back and wings generally darker; lower breast and abdomen yellowish-orange with orange-red centre to abdomen.
Distribution: Ivory Coast and Ghana east to Western Nigeria.
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 2 - click on link to view photo.)
Reichenow's Orange-bellied Parrots:
Species: Scientific: Poicephalus senegalus mesotypus ... English: Reichenow's Orange-bellied Parrot ... Dutch: Reichenows Bonte Boertje ... German: Reichenows Mohrenkopfpapagei
Description: As senegalus above, but green generally paler; green to breast extends to abdomen area; abdomen orange.
Distribution: Eastern to nort-eastern Nigeria, northern Cameroon, south-western Chad
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 3 - click on link to view photo.
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with the AvianWeb visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the AvianWeb Webmaster.
Photo contributions and articles are welcome!
