Senegal Parrot

1 Senegal Parrot Breed Overview

Senegal Parrot (details)

The Senegal Parrot is distributed across various countries in West Africa and is a classic resident bird. Its average lifespan is around 30 years, and young birds can learn to talk. Determining sex requires professional identification. In the wild, Senegal Parrots are considered agricultural pests, often stealing crops such as corn, millet, and peanuts from farmland to feed themselves.

Chinese Name: Senegal Parrot

English Name: Senegal Parrot

Binomial Name: Poicephalus senegalus

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Tribe: African Parrot Tribe

Subspecies: 3

Distribution: Guinea

2 Physical Characteristics of the Senegal Parrot

Senegal Parrot (details)

An ideal Senegal Parrot should be about 23 cm in length and weigh around 155 g. It is said that determining sex requires a professional, but people usually distinguish males from females by feather color: the inner underside of the male’s tail tip is entirely yellow, while the female’s is a mix of yellow and green.

The Senegal Parrot has very beautiful plumage. The body is green, the head dark gray, and the ear coverts have a silvery tinge. There is a V-shaped patch of orange-yellow feathers on the lower chest and belly. The inner wing coverts and tail coverts are bright yellow, and the tail feathers are brown-green. The beak is black and the irises are yellow. There are three subspecies in total, differing in the yellow, orange, or red coloration of the V-shaped patch on the chest and belly.

3 Senegal Parrot Living Environment

Senegal Parrot (details)

The most common parrot on the market is the Senegal Parrot, so extra care is needed when purchasing one. In the wild it mainly lives in open grasslands, usually at altitudes below 1,000 meters. It is best to keep Senegal Parrots that have been raised from a young age.

Young Senegal Parrots make good household pets—they are quiet and capable of mimicking and learning speech. Being small, they don’t need a large cage and take up little space, but they should be let out regularly to exercise and get enough activity. Adult birds newly introduced to captivity are easily nervous and uneasy, especially when approached, though they remain quiet and not noisy. They love to chew and gnaw, so branches and toys satisfy this need. Regular bathing or misting keeps feathers beautiful and healthy. They may startle easily at first, but once acclimated they become quite robust.

4 Senegal Parrot Care and Breeding

Senegal Parrot (details)

People keep Senegal Parrots for different reasons—some simply for display, others for breeding and trade. When it comes to breeding, we need to understand the parrot’s breeding method and requirements.

The Senegal Parrot reproduces by laying eggs. The breeding season varies by region; a clutch is about 3–4 eggs, with an incubation period of about 25–28 days and feathers fully grown at around 9–10 weeks. In dry areas breeding occurs mainly in the wet season, while in wetter regions the season is usually longer. Nests are built in tree hollows more than 10 meters above the ground.

Breeding of Senegal Parrots is not commonly seen, likely because most are wild-caught, but captive-bred birds are not very difficult to breed and will produce steady results once acclimated. They reach sexual maturity at about 2 years, sometimes earlier, but like most African Poicephalus parrots (such as Meyer’s, Red-bellied, and Jardine’s parrots), they usually begin breeding at 3–4 years of age. After chicks hatch, provide the parents with more soft foods (such as fruit and cooked grains/legumes) to feed them.

5 Senegal Parrot Feeding Guidelines

Senegal Parrot (details)

The most striking feature of the Senegal Parrot is its colorful plumage, which is a delight to behold. The condition of its feathers depends on the nutritional content of the feed provided by the owner. The Senegal Parrot is an omnivorous bird, and in the wild its favorite foods are crops from farmland.

The most nutritious food for the Senegal Parrot is of course formulated feed, but corn, rice, peanuts, rape seeds, and sunflower seeds can also serve as daily food. The mash can be steamed into cornbread using cornmeal or mixed flour. Provide a small amount of fruit and vegetables daily, and feed fresh nectar, honey, or preserves once a day. During the breeding season and winter, increase the proportion of peanuts, rape seeds, and sunflower seeds. Offer fruit or vegetables regularly.