Animal-World > Birds > Parrot Species > Senegal Parrot

Senegal Parrot

Yellow-Vented Parrot

Family: Psittacidae"Clover"Poicephalus senegalusPhoto Courtesy: Darwin Wagner

   Senegal Parrots are known for their acrobatics, their mischievousness, and their passion!

   The Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus, also known as the Yellow-vented Parrot, is a charming and very trainable small parrot. They have the big bird personality in a little bird body. Being cuddly and adapting easily to their environment, they make endearing pets. Senegals are great sources of companionship and amusement for their owners.

   The Senegal is an interesting bird that likes routine and becomes accustomed to the habits of its owners. Plan on spending an hour or so a day in some type of interaction with this little guy as he is a social creature. Whether that is in front of the TV or at meals, it makes no difference. Senegals can frequently become very attached to their human mate and have been known to become quite possessive and jealous. In order to avoid this, early socialization with all members of the home is required.

   Senegal Parrots are probably the most popular of the Poicephalus parrots, which includes the Meyer's Parrot, Red-bellied Parrot, and Jardine's parrots. They are also 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 or just for the owner who prefers more peace.

  Senegal Parrots learn human speech quite easily. Their voices are softer and gentler than their larger African cousins like the African Grey. They usually acquire a moderate vocabulary although some can have a more extensive list of words and phrases. Most will develop an understanding of several common phrases like "step up". Of course the best way to teach a parrot to talk is to talk to your parrot.

To learn more about parrot care, see:
Bird Care: How to Take Care of a Pet Bird

Geographic Distribution Poicephalus senegalus Data provided by GBIF.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Scientific name    Poicephalus senegalus

Distribution   The Senegal Parrot or Yellow-vented Parrot Poicephalus senegalus was first described by Linnaeus in 1766. They can be found across a wide range of West Africa. They migrate within West Africa based on availability of food which consists of fruits, seeds and blossoms. They will raid ripening millet and maize crops, attack harvested peanuts and they love figs. They are highly social and live in flocks. There are three subspecies of Senegal:

• Subspecies: Poicephalus senegalus senegalus - Senegal Parrot (the nominate subspecies)
• Subspecies: Poicephalus senegalus mesotypus - Orange-Bellied Senegal Parrot
• Subspecies: Poicephalus senegalus versteri - Senegal Parrot Versteri

Status    The Poicephalus senegalus is on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species as Least Concern (LC).

Description   For its size, the Senegal Parrot or Yellow-vented Parrot, appears to have a large beak and head. The head is gray and it has 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. Under the wing and under the tail, you will see a bright yellow. Juvenile birds have dark brown eyes, while the adult eye color ranges from silvery yellow to orange. The bill is gray and the legs are a brownish color.

  Senegal Parrots are about 9 inches in length (23 cm) and weigh between 120 and 170 grams (4.2 – 6.0 ounces). Their life span in the wild is 25 – 30 years. In captivity, they have been known to live as long as 50 years.

   There are three subspecies of this parrot and although they do not differ in behaviors, they do differ in the coloring of their vest.

• Poicephalus s. senegalus (the nominate subspecies) has a yellow vest.
• Poicephalus s. mesotypus has an orange vest.
• Poicephalus s. versteri has a deep-orange/red vest.

Care and feeding    In the wild the Senegal parrots eat seeds, nuts, berries and fruit. They love millet, corn and figs. For your pet, ready made name brand seed mixes are usually available at your local pet store or super market. These 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. Pellet mixes are also available.  Store seed in a dark but airy place. Don't use plastic bags, cloth bags work better.

   Additionally, your Senegal can eat anything nutritious that you eat. 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.

Housing    Provide a roomy cage with the minimum dimensions of 2 feet by 2 feet and 3 feet high. These little guys do not do well in a closed in space. They need room and they need toys. They enjoy playing and climbing. A cage with horizontal bars about 3/4 inches apart makes climbing easier. It has been observed that wooden toys are favorites of Senegal's. 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. Swings are a favorite and bells along with plenty of chew toys. 

Maintenance   The basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Weekly you should wash all the perches and dirty toys, and the floor should be washed about every other week. A total hosing down and disinfecting of an aviary should be done yearly, replacing anything that needs to be freshened, such as old dishes, toys and perches.

Social Behaviors   In the wild, the Senegal Parrot is generally seen singly or in pairs although there are frequently in larger parties of 10 – 20 when food is plentiful. They are a gregarious species and constantly chatter to each other with a range of whistles and calls. They migrate in large flocks to take advantage of ripening crops of millet and maize or other food sources. They are not aggressive unless you would say the male is aggressive during breeding season when he is protecting his mate and chicks from predators. Normally, they just get along with everyone.

Handling/Training   You should give a new arrival a few days to get use to you, your voice and its cage before trying to handle it. A hand fed baby will not need much taming and can often be handled right away, but be patient and go slow. Allow them to hear your voice, get the scent of you.

   Remember that taming and training a bird takes patience, never 'punish' your pet! This only serves to destroy the trust you've spent so much time building. For more information on training your parrot, see Parrots: Handling/Training.

Activities   The Senegal is quite content to play with his toys. They love playing and climbing. They need wooden toys to chew on and welcome new things to play with.

Sexing - Sexual Differences   Many breeders can accurately determine the sex of these parrots by sight and behavior. However, they have a lot of experience and usually a lot of birds. It is said the male is slightly larger and heavier and it is said the male is a little bolder. The only accurate way to determine if you have a male or female is through DNA sexing.

Breeding/Reproduction   In the wild breeding takes place toward the end of the rainy season which occurs in the fall from September to November in Africa. Senegal Parrots nest in a hollow tree at a considerable height from the ground. The female lays 3 – 4 eggs and the female incubates the eggs starting after the second egg is laid. They hatch out approximately 27 – 28 days later and will fledge around 12 weeks of age.

   It is believed the Senegals mature at approximately 4 years, although some will not breed until they are 6 – 7 years old. They are relatively easy to breed in captivity and require a nest box that is 18 inches high and 10 inches square. Suitable nest-box litter would be decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings, peat mixture, or other suitable materials. If they are to be bred in captivity they should be provided a spacious aviary with non-toxic leafy branches for perching and entertaining. Chewing these branches will minimize boredom and give the birds some beak exercise. There is no reason not to put toys in their aviary.

Potential Problems    A Senegal Parrot parrot that is well cared for will seldom become ill. Though it is often difficult to determine illness, some visible signs of illness to be aware of are:

• ruffled plumage
• listlessness
• drooping wings
• sagging body
• extreme mood changes
• having no appetite
• bulges in feathering
• partially closed or watery eyes
• swelling of the eyelids
• rasping
• difficulty breathing
• excessive saliva
• dirty vent
• any change in the feces not apparently diet related.

   Some of the more common illnesses are:

• Psittacosis (chlamydiosis or parrot fever)
• bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
• feather picking (results of boredom, poor diet, sexual frustration, lack of bathing)
• allergies
• chewing flight and tail feathers by juveniles
• beak malformations in chicks
• Papillomas
• kidney disease (gout)
• toxicity
• heavy metal poisoning
• lipomas in older birds.

   If you notice any of this bird illnesses in your Senegal, immediately provide a warm, draft free, secure environment kept at about 86°F (30°C). Place food and water close to the perch where it is easily accessible. An ailing parrot should be taken to a avian veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

Availability   Because of the success in captive breeding Senegal parrots are available and but are moderately expensive.

References

• Animal-World References: Pet Birds - Exotic Birds
• Senegal Parrots aka Yellow-vented Parrots, Avian Web
• Senegal Parrot Information and FAQ, TheParrotForum.com
• Senegal Parrot, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
• Joseph M. Forshaw, Parrots of the World, T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 1977.
• Arthur Freud, All About The Parrots, Howell Book House, 1986.

Author: Cheryl Galloway

Lastest Comments on Senegal Parrot View all 85 comments on Senegal Parrot Add Your Comment

jay jay - 2012-01-10 senegal parrots are dangerous they bite deadly Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2012-01-10 No, that jusat isn't true and I am sure sorry if you had a bad experience. Senegal parrots make quite charming, comical and fun companions for humans. Yes, if they are cornered or extremely frightened, they will bite but it is unusual and they almost always provide definit warning via there foot coming stright out or their head down and eyes going in and out. The bite hurts but it sure doesn't hurt as bad as hitting your finger with a hammer or stubbing your toe on the bed. It sure isn't deadly. Reply

Kingsley Kezinibe - 2011-06-30 I have a senegal parrot that is 9 months old. I named him Paul. He is sometimes restless but very active. I am not very sure of its sex. But I have read some peoples experiences about their parrots laying eggs after some years. I want to know if my Paul can lay eggs on its own without having a mate of different sex. Can they reproduce even while in their cages? Click For Replies (3) Charlie Roche - 2011-06-30 If your Senegal is a male there is no way he can lay an egg. However if your Senegal is a female it is possible that she can lay an egg without having a mate. Her egg would not be fertile and would not hatch and no chick could be produced. She may want to sit it for awhile or not sit it. Many people write in regarding their parrots laying an egg as they are surprised and shocked. It does happen but it does not happen frequently. It is not the norm but it does happen. Female chickens just lay eggs. Yes, a bird can mate and reproduce in their cages but if you wish to breed your Senegal it would be a whole lot easier to do it with a flight cage and a nest box. Attmepting to breed a Senegal in a regular cage and no nest box would probably not be sucessful. Kingsley Kezinibe - 2011-11-30 Thanks Charlie. Is there a way I can determine the sex of my senegal? That's one. Secondly, my senegal often pecks me even though its quite friendly. What do i do to stop this behaviour. Finally can they talk clearly? Thanks. Charlie Roche - 2011-11-30 There is no 100% accurate way to determine the sex of a senegal parrot without DNA sexing. However, most breeders can tell by looking with about 90% accuracy. The females top of the head going from the eyes and up and over the top and then to the top of the neck is a smoothe curve. The males head is flatter and you can usually feel a sligh angle ridge at the back of the head before you get to the neck area. Femlaes head is smoothe and males head is flatter. Real easy to see when babies before they feather in. Senegals don't usually talk clearly. They will say a few words and you will know what they mean but someone else may not. You will know though and that is what counts. Pecking you --- parrots have just a few ways of telling us humans they don't like what we are doing. A foot can come straight out - sorta like a cop stopping traffic. That means 'hey I don't want pet now' and if you continue anyway - they will sometimes peck at you. Pecking can just be an attention thing or habit in which case the easiest thing to do is when she does it just grab her beak with your thumb and finger and say a big 'NO' and then say 'good girl' and give her a kiss on the beak. You can also grab her beak and do a figure 8 with it and come up with a rhyme of sorts. Replace the behavior - via showing her another behavior. Reply

Will - 2011-11-29 I have a 7 year old male mesotypus senegal (Orange ). I am hopeing to get him a female. Can the subspecies be mixed? Nominate senegals (Yellow) are so common. Would there be any health issues for subspecies hybrids? Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-29 You shouldn't have any problems and I don't know of anyone that would tell you that hybrids would have health issues. Reply

Samuel King - 2011-07-22 We have a Senegal who has made me it's special person. It's kind of creepy in a sense, because I inadvertently got Jessica to "smile" and dance, and now, I'll call her a "she"... she will be with me, and she'll smile and start doing a rain dance on my hand, rubbing her hiney on the back of my hand and clucking and cooing. What's up with that? I find this disturbing. I see male pigeons doing this around their mates, and wonder, what is my little buddy doing to my hand? She's a fun bird, we had one before, but it never did this. What is my bird doing, and should I be disturbed about this behavior? Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-07-23 I wouldn't be disturned about the behavior. She's probably doing what you think she is doing (G - rated site) but dogs will sometimes hum - as will a cat. Just move your hand but don't get upset or mad. Ever had a bird try and feed you? Regutitate on you? Touch your lips with your tongue? They love you. They don't know or understand just showing affection or yep maybe think they are mating. It is life and no reason to be concerned or get upset or anything. Just put her in your other hand and give her a kiss on the top of her head. Just affection. Billie - 2011-10-17 Hi Jessicas human, nothing to be worried or disturbed about. She/he likes you and is bonding to you. She/he's doing their mating part, there are no body fluids, no genital exposure etc. because we are not a bird mate. They can and often do have a climax if left to continue this ritual ( most birds show this by a heavy panting, parted beak and ruffled feathers ). Don't be mad, upset with them, or put them back in their room they are showing you they have love for you. Nicely change them to other hand and give them something else to play with or a treat to eat, for a distraction. Afterwards, then you can place them back in their room. In my experience, it's usually the male who exhibit this behavior with their chosen human. I have currently 10 parrots, and have had parrots approximately 25 years. I'm not a breeder, just a bird lover. Reply

Kingsley Kezinibe - 2011-06-30 I am happy that this medium provides an opportunity to share experiences and get education on how to care for my senegal parrot named Paul as well as its love-bird sister named Tracy. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-06-30 Bird people understand bird people and enjoy hearing about their stories and the life of their birds. It is a fun thing. Welcome on board. Reply

juanita - 2011-05-28 I was given a senegal parott. He is 49 yrs. old, and i just love him but he tries his hardest to really hurt me. He has a huge table top cage. I let him out every day, take care of him, but he likes males. He allows me to pet him every once and a while. He screams at me, tries to attack me,growls at me. I just laugh at him and keep talking to him. I do not know if he is just to old to train. He talks but I can't understand most of what he says. He is really a mean little boy. Any one know any thing about what to do? thanks. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-05-28 WOW you got courage there. OK. A Senegal parrot life span in the wild is around 30 years old and in captivity they say about 50. Your fella could go another 15 years so let's not worry about that. How sure are you that he is 49? Birds go through phases - just like humans. They are cuddly babies. There really is the terrible twos and puberty. Then finally there is adulthood and some order and consistency. Can they continue to learn? Sure just like humans. However, your little fella is quite mature and just like us humans when we get mature, his back might hurt or maybe he has a little arthritis or maybe just cranky. He is older and with that comes ailments that you just can't do anything about. Rather than you trying to train him - why don't you let him train you? Some folks would get really ticked and say a person always has to be in control. You can be in control but just listen and watch and do what your little guy tells you to do and enjoy him. 49 years old - this was probably a wild caught a long time back - probably not hand fed and probably in many different homes. He allows you to pet him - how can you tell when he is in the mood? How do you know he will allow this and when? Just pet him when he is in a responsive mood. Hand feed him something like cracked sunflower seeds or little pieces of chicken. Figure out something he dearly loves to eat and eat with him every day. He will start to learn that your company means something good -- all the time. He screams at you? Try and figure out why. Is he cranky or frightened. Are you too close to what he believes is his territory? He screams. Again, try and figure out why. You keep doing what you said and talk to him, laugh, hand feed him, pet him when he is responsive. Listen and watch him. Watch his body movements. He has a table top cage? Kitchen? Can you eat dinner with him? If possible, you should try and remove him from his cage (area) and place him on a neutral perch - not in his terriotory so you can work with him a little on "UP" "TREAT" "PET" etc. The first step, I believe, is knowing and understanding where he is at. Chronlogically he might be 49 but cognitive is about 3 years old. So he is 3 years old in an old persons body that probably aches a little at times. Go slow, try and make friends like you are doing and the more he enjoys being around you, the more he will want to be around you. So try the treats, eat dinner with him, always pet him when he is repsonsive, set up a neutral territory, ignore poor behavior and go from there. Just enjoy him on the days you can and laugh and talk to him on the days he is a pistol. Lots of luck - truly. Reply

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