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 88 comments on Senegal Parrot Add Your Comment

Jennifer - 2007-08-16 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. Reply

steve - 2007-03-27 I adopted Harley in June of 2004 due to my best friend and his wife having no time to spend with the bird. At first he did not like me one bit, being agressive and quiet. In October of 2004 me and my fiance moved out on our own and he's come along very much. Harley is still agressive with my fiance and anyone but myself, but everyone who comes in contact with him is warned ahead of time. For food he gets 3 to 5 baby carrots, and the food we get from the bulk section of a local grocer which has a variety of seeds, peanuts, and other varieties. His cage really hasn't changed since i've owned him but when someone is home, his cage is always open along with his ladder that touches the floor. He knows the microwave, sirens, telephone, says hi, says dadda, momma, harley, mickey, dances, paces when he wants me, and he hangs himself in the cage (either upside down, or in the corner) so we can pet him. He's an awesome pet but when he gets out of line, he gets a spray of water to let him know he's bad. Reply

Someone Who Cares - 2006-02-03 I have had my Senegal Parrot for 5 months now (He will be 1 year old in 8 days!) and he is my life! Techo loves to play, dance to music, and nod his head at me (which I think means he wants to feed me :/). Although he doesn't talk yet, I'm not bothered! He prefers to whistle and cluck his tongue anyway! For anyone wanting a first parrot (Techo was my first :P) the Senegal is an ideal choice; they're funny, relatively quiet, and love to play! Remember that the choice will be for a lifetime though, and they need entertainment every day. Overall? Well worth it! Reply

Rachelle - 2006-05-17 I acquired my senegal "Jo Jo" in 1998. he had been badly treated and was in such a sorry state, bless him. he had little feathers and was very scared and nervous, he wouldn't come near me and just screeched really loudly. After months and months of talking to him and coaxing him he eventually started coming closer to me in his cage. I always made sure that I was at his level so that he didn't feel threatened at all. I then started putting my finger near his cage and saying tickle, after many months he eventually let me tickle his head. And now years on he loves his mummy and trusts me...Years later he started whistling and started chattering away in his own language. His vocabulary is fantastic he says... Jo Jo's here, Mr Jo Jo, Jo Jo is beautiful, Jo Jo is silly, Hello, Hey baby, Hello darlin, Rachelle where's Andy (Andy is my husband) he shouts Andy if he is upstairs, tickle tickle, tick for short, what's up, what's this, who's this (when someone comes in the house), oh shi*, where's Rachelle. if you are eating and he wants some of what you are eating he says Jo Jo's, mmmmmm, impersonates the telephone, the smoke alarm, the burgular alarm, the list is endless. He loves you to whistle a song and he tries to join in. He is such a joy to have and great entertainment!!! He has a nice big house to live in but also enjoys coming out but only occasionally. He isn't too struck on men apart from Andy. He is definitely a mummy's boy. Saying boy i actually think he is a she! Just wish that I knew how old he/she is. But whatever I would never be without him... Reply

Julia - 2006-11-18 I have a 5 year old Senegal named Eugene. I highly recommend these birds as a pet, my Eugene is very quite and only screams if someone makes a loud noise or smokes (A very reliable smoke detector). One slight downside is that he can be very cranky, if he wants to be left alone, LEAVE HIM ALONE, unless of course you don't mind bleeding and scarring. But when he wants attention, he weill be very affectionate even letting me turn him upside down and he stays in that position making kissing noises for some time. When he is in a mushy mood he likes to be very close to my face and puts one foot on my mouth and tries to feed me (if you are familiar with birds you will know what I mean). One thing about this breed more than other birds he can EAT. He has not met a food that he didn't like. His favorite is mashed potatoes and pasta. This bird can be very jealous though. I recently brought home a Greater Sulphur Creasted Cockatoo and Eugene hates him. If they are both out Eugene will chase after him and try to attack. It is kind of amusing to watch a small 8 ounce bird chase a very large 2 pound bird who is running away. Eugene is very brave and has even bitten a few dogs that were curious and just wanted to smell his cage. This bird is very intelligent and has an excellent memory. One time he was left outside in the heat by someone who was birdsitting for me. My mother rescued him. Since then whenever he sees my mother he flies to her and lands on her head. He remembers his rescuer. Prior to her rescuing him he didn't like her at all because he remembers her as the lady with the scary vacuum cleaner from when he lived in her home. I absolutely love this bird so much and hope he lives a very long enjoyable life. Sincerely, Eugene's Mommy Reply

Brittney Walsh - 2005-10-16 When I was 15 years old, I adopted a Senegal from a local pet store. I had my eye on her from the very day she moved into the store, because she was so quiet and well behaved. Of course, at 15, it was a dream I never expected to achieve. I didn't have a thousand dollars even if I'd emptied my whole life's savings. But then my dad decided that he would give me the money if I would wait until I was 17 to get a car. I never would have said no to an offer like that. I was completely in love with that bird; I just HAD to have her! I accepted the offer and my beautiful girl was home with me the very next day. Now, it's six years later. My Senegal, Joey, has been my only baby all this time. She's my best friend. In fact, when she attached herself to my boyfriend, I trusted her judgement so well that I stayed with him through a difficult job change, and we ended up married! I've had a lot of different pets in my life, but Joey is the only one who became like a daughter to me. She's so full of life and energy; and she's so cute! She's learned to say "Mama's girl!" and "MAMA!!" when she wants me. If I don't come fast enough, she mimics my mother's voice and yells "Britt!" instead. She's almost figured out "Daddy", but because I haven't been married very long, she hasn't had the time to learn that one fully. She loves when people speak baby talk to her, and she can't get through half an hour without a hug from someone. I love my Senegal more than I've ever loved anybody else. I truly think that these birds are the best pets anyone could get, and I would recommend them to any person who has the time to dedicate to their bird. Reply

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