Senegal Parrots as Pets
Poicephalus Parrots
- Senegals as Pets: Personality & Care Requirements (please scroll down)
- Senegal Information (origin, physical description, mutation colors, sub-species, etc.)
- Training and Behavioral Guidance
- Housing & Care
- Are you looking for a Senegal Parrot? Click here for a listing of breeders
The Senegal Parrot is the most popular Poicephalus parrot in aviculture, with the Meyers Parrot being the second in line.
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).
Personality of the Senegal Parrots:
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 are unlikely to turn into good pets, as they are difficult, if not impossible, to tame; and they may always be frightened of humans. The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has made the trade of wild caught parrots illegal.
Featured Pets:
- Senegal Gypsy: Kathy Derby - Gypsy's owner describes Gypsy as follows: "She is approximately 12 years old. She is extremely smart. I have always been told their vocabulary is limited but she talks up a storm. If I am not paying attention to her she will look at me and say "Hey you, will you talk to me". If I have something to eat she says to me "What do you got?" "Gypsy treat". Her other sentences are What's the matter. Get over here. C'mon. Are you ready? Hey baby. What are you doing? She laughs and makes sounds of course. There is still so much more.
She misses her best friend Buddie - [a] dark gray cockatiel which she adored who passed away. She would call Buddie over to her cage. She would say "Buddie, hey Buddie, c'mere. c'mon. Buddie c'mon." And Buddie would go over and climb up her cage. Of course she would try to bite her feet or grab her tail. Since Buddie has been gone she calls for her constantly "Buddie, where's my Buddie Buddie?" It is really sad. You can tell in her voice she is upset. I did go to a rescue and adopt a beautiful cinnamon pearl but she knew the difference right away just by the color. She rejected her. I found a dark gray cockatiel and I showed her. She knew the difference but there was acceptance. Unfortunately the cockatiels face turned yellow and she rejected him. I had to rename him Buster. I have now been given a baby gray cockatiel, Buddie, which I am hoping will not change color. She is calling him/her, has tried to bite him when I showed him to her, but she is not saying Buddie in a depressed voice. So time will tell. If he changes color I don't know what I will do because she will start all over again looking for her friend."
- Please also visit Hope's webpage -- Hope is a toeless, 6-year old female Senegal Parrot. You will enjoy the information as well as the videos featuring this little "parrot star" ...
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
- Housing Your Bird
- Training Your Bird
- Bird Nutrition
- Parrot Products
Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
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. ... Length: 23 cm (9 ins)
Distribution: Ivory Coast and Ghana east to Western Nigeria. ... CITES II - Endangered Species
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. ... Length: 23 cm (9 ins)
Distribution: Eastern to nort-eastern Nigeria, northern Cameroon, south-western Chad ... CITES II - Endangered Species
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 3 - click on link to view photo.
Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info
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