Senegal parrot
Senegal parrot | |
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Adult male in the Canary Islands, Spain | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Psittaciformes |
Family: | Psittacidae |
Genus: | Poicephalus |
Species: | P. senegalus
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Binomial name | |
Poicephalus senegalus (Linnaeus, 1766)
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Subspecies | |
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Range | |
Synonyms | |
Psittacus senegalus Linnaeus, 1766 |
The Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) is a parrot which is a resident breeder across a wide range of west Africa.[1][2] It makes migrations within west Africa,[1] according to the availability of the fruit, seeds and blossoms which make up its diet. It is considered a farm pest in Africa, often feeding on maize or millet.[2] It is popular in aviculture.[3]
Taxonomy
In 1760, the French zoologist
There are two subspecies.[8]
- P. s. senegalus (the nominate subspecies): this subspecies has a yellow vest; its native range includes Senegal, southern Mauritania, southern Mali to Guinea and Lobos Island.[2]
- P. s. versteri: this subspecies has a deep-orange
They do not differ in behaviour, but only in the colour of the "vest".[2] In the pet trade, the nominate subspecies is the most common though both are raised and sold as pets.
Description
Senegal parrots are about 23 centimetres (9.1 inches) long, weigh about 120 to 170 grams (4.2 to 6.0 ounces).[2] They have a relatively large head and beak for their overall size, and feathers form a short broad tail. Adults have a charcoal grey head, grey beak, bright yellow irises,[2] green back and throat, and yellow underparts and rump. The yellow and green areas on a Senegal parrot's front form a V-shape resembling a yellow vest worn over green. Young Juveniles have dark grey, almost black, irises, which change to light grey.
Senegal parrots are not sexually dimorphic, but there are some hypotheses which sometimes might help to determine the gender of adult birds:
- The V-shape of the vest is usually longer in females; in females the green area extends down over the chest to between the legs, whereas in males the tip of the green area ends midway down the chest.[2]
- The female's beak and head are generally slightly smaller and narrower than the male's.[2]
- The under-tail covert feathers (short feathers under the base of the main tail feathers) are generally mostly yellow in the male and generally mostly green in the female.[2]
- Males are generally, but not always, larger and heavier than female birds.[2]
- DNA testing is another way to determine the sex [9]
Senegal parrots are birds of open woodland and savanna.[1][2] They flock most commonly in countries in West Africa.[10] It 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, and have been known to live for 50 years in captivity.[11]
Research by Texas State University conducted in southeastern Senegal found that the parrots ate a diet of about 77% fruit, with figs (Ficus sp.), African grapes (Lannea microcarpa), and shea fruits (Vitellaria paradoxa) being the most commonly eaten. Seeds made up about 22% of the diet, and the remaining 1% consisted of flowers.[12]
Behaviour
Senegal parrots nest in holes in trees, often
Conservation status
Because of its vast range in Africa, the wild Senegal parrot population is difficult to estimate.[1] Nevertheless, in 1981 concerns about extensive trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade led to it being listed on appendix 2 of The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), along with all parrot species.[1] This has made the trade, import and export of all wild caught parrots illegal.
Aviculture
Pets
Hand reared Senegal parrots are one of the most popular parrots to be kept as pets,[1] and the most popular Poicephalus parrot.[3] Their calls are generally high pitched whistles and squawks along with mimics, but they are not as noisy as many other parrot species.[1] They make for a good companion and are quite friendly compared to other parrot species. Senegal parrots are independent at times, needing a very fair amount of sleep during the day. Keeping two as pets can very well aid the parrots social and physical health as they have a companion.
Wild caught Senegal parrots do not usually become tame, and do not make good pets.[2]
Breeding
Senegal parrots are relatively easy to breed in captivity and there is a small industry in breeding and hand rearing Senegal parrots and other parrots for the pet trade. In aviculture Senegal parrots can start to breed at the age of 3 to 4 years in captivity, but some do not breed until age 5 years. Parent reared birds are known to breed as early as 2 years of age.[2]
Senegal parrot nest boxes can be any of a variety of sizes and shapes; but for example, a nest box about 18 inches (46 centimetres) high and 8 inches (20 centimetres) to 10 inches (25 centimetres) square would be suitable.[2] An exit and entrance port about 2.5 inches (6.4 centimetres) in diameter would be suitable, and the birds may enlarge the port by chewing the wood. Nest boxes generally have a secure side door for inspecting the nest.
Gallery
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A pet juvenile. Its irises are grey.
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Pet looking upwards
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A pet adult showing yellow irises
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Senegal parrot nest box
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Senegal parrot egg
(on 1 cm grid)
References
- ^ .
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "wingsscc.com - senegal parrot". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2007.
- ^ ISBN 1-84309-164-X.
- ^ Brisson, Mathurin Jacques (1760). Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés (in French and Latin). Vol. 4. Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche. pp. 400–402, Plate 23 fig 2. The two stars (**) at the start of the section indicates that Brisson based his description on the examination of a specimen.
- ^ hdl:2246/678.
- ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1766). Systema naturae : per regna tria natura, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 1 (12th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 149.
- ^ Swainson, William John (1837). On the Natural History and Classification of Birds. Vol. 2. London: John Taylor. p. 301.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2018). "Parrots, cockatoos". World Bird List Version 8.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "Bird DNA Testing | Bird Sexing Test | DNA Diagnostics Center". DDC. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ISBN 0-7136-6933-0.
- ^ "Senegal Parrots aka Yellow-vented Parrots". Archived from the original on 1 June 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- OCLC 1122933549.
- Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1
- Guide to the Senegal Parrot and its family. By M.S. Allan & D. Deter. Barron's. ISBN 0-7641-0332-6