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Senegal ParrotFamily: Psittacidae
Dr. Jungle..."Senegals are known for their acrobatics, their mischievousness, and their passion!" Senegals are much quieter birds than many of the smaller,
more colorful and popular parrots like the conures in the Aratinga genus.
For this reason they make ideal pets for apartment or condominium living. To learn more about Parrot Care visit:
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Description:
Senegal Parrots are probably the most popular of the Poicephalus
parrots which includes Meyer's, Red-bellied, and Jardine's parrots. They
are attractive and intelligent little birds that are highly social and
live in flocks in the wild. They are from central and eastern Africa. In the wild, breeding is after the rainy season, from September through November.
The Senegal's head is gray, with a mostly green body. The
breast and belly ranges in color from lime-yellow to deep orange. The
body markings form a "V" with a green point running down the
breast bone. There are some who say they can be sexed based on color,
but this is very unreliable, especially when they are young. Others believe
they can be sexed by their behavior, with females being shy and retiring
and males being bolder and more aggressive. This is not very reliable
either since there are bold hens and shy males. Juvenile birds have dark
brown eyes, while adults eye color ranges from silvery yellow to orange.
Housing:
Provide a roomy cage with the minimum dimensions of: 20"
long x 20" deep x 28" high. Preferably a cage with horizontal
bars about 3/4 inch apart to make climbing easier. The individual senegal's
needs should be taken into account if possible. For instance, if the bird
is going to spend most of its time in the cage without being taken out
frequently, a larger cage might be better, while a bird that is handled
allot could do with a smaller one.
It has been observed that wooden toys are favorites of senegals.
Wooden ladders, chew toys, and wooden hanging toys seem to be preferred,
most anything made of wood.
You can also attach a perch/play area on top of the cage.
In the cage have about three perches of different diameters (or branches
with some angling) without the sandpaper guards. A swing and mirror among
other toys are available but be sure to leave enough room for flying!
Food and water dishes, preferably automatic dispensing, or if not, ones
with guards to prevent waste contamination. Clips to hold spray millet
and fresh food. A bath house with a textured bottom is a favorite, or
a slow running faucet will do. Provide a breeding box if breeding is what
you have in mind.
Care and feeding:
In the wild the Senegal parrots eat seeds, nuts, berries
and fruit. For your pet, ready made staple seed mixes are usually available
at your local pet store or super market which contain a mixture of canary
grass seed, white millet, yellow millet, oats and groats and red millet,
niger seed and linseed. Some higher quality seed mixtures come with thistle,
anise, rape, sesame, and safflower seed. Vitamin pellets with iodine in
them are sometimes present to prevent thyroid problems. Store seed in
a dark but airy place. Not in plastic bags but in a clothes bag in a closet.
Offer fresh foods such as eggplant, green peas, cucumber, young dandelion
greens, sweet corn, beet greens, carrots, unsprayed lettuce, green peppers,
sorrel, spinach leaves, tomatoes and zucchini. Fruits that are suitable
are: Pineapples, apples, apricots, bananas, most other fruits.
Don't feed your bird chocolate or avocados. These foods have been implicated in the death of many birds and should not be fed to senegals.
Availability: Senegal parrots are readily available and moderately expensive.
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Comments from people who have kept this pet:
Hello, My name is Jim and my Senegal, Murphy is 26 years old. He has quite a personality and usually between October and January he roams all around his room chewing on things. He likes to hide in a winter hat and he likes it when I tap on his beak while he is in hiding. He likes most food even lobster. He is quite loud at times and is only friendly to me. He doesn't take to anyone else. I don't take him outside anymore because he got loose once and I took about an hour to get him back. And he will not tolerate being in a cage. He hates it and will destroy the cage until he gets out. He has a large perch that he stays on. He is quite a joy to own.
I have an even greater appreciation for my little Tuco after she flew off the other night and I had to wait until daylight to find her - not knowing if I ever would see her again. Luckily I heard a whistle she makes and then kept calling her name and then I would hear that whistle again. I looked and she was in a bush waiting for me. I love her so much. She sleeps on my head every night, tries to steal my floss when I am flossing my teeth, and loves to hop on me when I am vacuuming and ride along. She is mostly bonded to me but tolerates others. I can't put her near my Grey or she tries to show her who is boss. I thank God for a second chance with her. I tried clipping her wings some more but she still flies, so I have to be a whole lot more careful.
My dad bought my grandmother a Senegal over 27 years ago, since she passed away 11 years ago, he has lived with us and fits in nicely... though he definitely is not the nicest parrot out there! he doesnt do affection (apart from with his metal bell that he loves to hold and rub his head on) and he hates my dad and my other grandmother. She can't sit within 5 feet of him without him going mad at her. He's never talked though for years we tried to teach him and he wasn't having any of it. He does like to impersonate ringtones though, and you always know when he's feeling lonely as he does the ring to get you to come into the room. His best friend is the dog, but she definitely knows who's boss! And i swear they can talk to each other as he always informs her when the postie is coming. He may be a pain in the neck but our family really would be incomplete without him.
I have shared my home with my Senegal for over 16 years. He is absolutely the best guy I have ever had! He loves everyone and will go to them upon first meeting. He has never exhibited any of the moody behavior described and although I am his favorite human he is not exclusive. He has a large vocabulary and sings happy bird day to me every morning. His zest for life is refreshing and adds to mine every day!
I have a senegal parrot named Hawkeye. She is about 17 years old but could be a little older then that. She is the most loveable thing ever! Takes showers with me, sleeps on me, goes on rides with me, she's like my little baby! She loves money and goes crazy over it, also my expensive hand bags and shoes. If i leave them out she'll chew them up, lol. She squawks like crazy when i come home and she gets too excited. Also when i leave without taking her too, she makes me kiss her before i leave. As soon as she sees the sunlight everyone has to wake up because she'll be our alarm clock. I had one accident with her were she flew away the day before the fourth of july. Had her outside in a cage ready to go for a ride and somehow she got loose. Searched all day for her and believe it or not i found her on the next day, the Fourth of July, by putting posters up. Someone called me and had her! i had to clip her wings after that. I felt bad but i love her so much and could'nt picture my life without her. She's the biggest sweetheart ever, my baby girl! Best pet i can ask for.
Just bought my mate a senegal parrot for her birthday, talk about a brill pet. It's flying round the room and drinking all my bloody coffee! Also attacking the ribena, lol.
Some of the coolest comments:
A water spray should not be used as a punishment with birds. Punishments in general don't work well with birds, but I think that can be particularly true of senegal parrots, as they love drama and even a "punishment" can seem rewarding to them. Use water for baths, which should be pleasurable--not for punishment. It's better to use distractions. Try teaching your parrot a trick. When he's being bad, you can ask him to do the trick; this will distract him from his bad behavior.
We purchased are Senegal parrot three years ago from a local bird store. Born on November 1, 2002, We brought Elmo (named before we were told her sex) home the weekend after New Year's 2003. My husband and I have no children, so Elmo is very spoiled. Grandma says "Thank God you don't have any kids since the bird is so spoiled". Elmo has free rein of the house when we are at home. The first thing we do is open the cage door and allow her to go wherever she wants to go. Normally she'll climb down the play set to make sure everyone is home. If one of us get home late she will pace until the other person gets home. If we don't open the cage door right away she will call for us until we let her out. Elmo speaks a few phrases, "Pretty Bird" "Oh, Pretty Baby" "Mommy" "Daddy" but I think she does better with the imitations of the microwave, alarm clock and my husband's cell phone. The "wolf whistle" and "charge" are also popular. She loves taking showers and will run to the bathroom door and she'll peck at the door until she's let in. She's plenty of fun and alot of work to keep occupied. But she is definitely special.
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