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Poicephalus Family All the Poicephalus Parrots are native to Africa. This group is characterized by colorful plumage, playful personalities, and relatively quiet voices. They can be quite talented mimics and some individuals have quite large vocabularies. |
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Tori, my Ruppell's parrot |
The ability of parrots to imitate the human voice is one reason for their popularity as pets. The best of these is the African gray parrot. Experiments have shown that individuals of this species may have cognitive abilities equal to those of porpoises and primates. Virtually all parrots are hole-nesters, using holes in trees, termite mounds, rock cavities, or ground tunnels. |
Tori, just bathed |
The heavy demands of the cage-bird trade, together with loss of habitat, have resulted in many species of parrots becoming endangered. Thousands of parrots are brought into Europe and North America annually, both legally and illegally, and many do not survive the journey. In most countries the capture, export, and import of parrots are strictly regulated, but the laws are difficult to enforce. Ideally, only those parrots that have been bred in captivity should be kept as pets.
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Meyers parrot |
The Meyer's Parrot is among at least six different subspecies of Poicephalus meyeri. They become more attractive as they mature as most subspecies develop yellow coloration on the forehead. The Meyer's parrot is reported to have a softer voice than many of the larger parrots, though they are still moderately noisy birds overall. In captivity they are reported to talk in some instances. Most parrots love to chew, and wood is a favorite. |
Red Bellied Parrot (Poicephalus rufiventris) |
Red Bellied Parrots are often considered to be real little show-offs. They are often not as shy as other parrots, and some owners report that their birds will talk even more in the presence of company than they do when they are at home with people they know. |
Senegal parrot |
The Senegal Parrot is very colourful and these small parrots usually have a huge personality. Its a small bird with a quiet voice which makes it the perfect pet for someone with limited space and who prefers a quiet bird. Senegals are quiet but they can learn to talk exceedingly well. They love playtime and being let out of their cages. Some individuals may bite when they are upset or frustrated. Senegal Parrots are generally one-person birds, and are usually very affectionate and love to cuddle. They do well in medium sized cages as long as they are given plenty of time out of their cages to play and exercise.
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The average lifespan of the Poicephalus Parrots is between 25 and 30 years, though individuals can live much longer with proper care. Correct diet is very important. Poicephalus Parrots should be fed a good seed or pellet diet, supplemented with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and are sometimes given lean cooked meat or pet biscuits as treats. My Ruppell's is crazy about fish. Poicephalus Parrots live in small groups or pairs in the wild where they eat fruits, seeds and grain. |
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LINKS
Learn more about parrot conservation at: http://www.worldparrottrust.org and http://www.theparrotsocietyuk.org
A nice parrot website: http://www.earthlife.net/birds/psittaciformes.html
BOOKS
The Guide to the Well Behaved Parrot by Mattie-Sue Athan
An excellent book, full of good, useful information.
The African Ark, newsletter of the African Parrot Society
Another good source for breeders/sellers. A good mixture of breeder and companion bird articles.
