Family: Psittacidae
Origin: Central-western Africa
Size: 9″
Coloration
Overall green, paler and more yellow on the rump; tail brownish-green; lower breast and abdomen yellow tinged with orange; grey bill and head; yellow iris and brown legs.
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Diet: 65-80% high-quality commercial diet (pellets, crumbles, or nuggets), 15-30% vegetables, 5% fresh fruits, occasional nuts. No avocados or fruit pits.
Cage Size: Minimum 30″ H x 36″ L x 30″ W
Grooming: Trim beak, nails, and flight feathers as needed.
Compatibility/Disposition: May do well with others if introduced young, otherwise can be territorial and aggressive.
Vocalization: Quiet voice, good with mimicry, extensive vocabularies, including whistles, chirps, squawks, and chattering.
Playfulness: Shy, needs consistent gentle handling to remain tame.
Life Span: 35+ years
Age at Maturity: 2-3 years
Nesting Sites in the Wild: High in hollow trees.
Breeding Season: September-November
Sexing: Reliable only by DNA or endoscopy.
Special: Physical development is precocious compared to other parrots.
Behaviour And Characteristics
In the wild, they live approximately 25-30 years but can reach 50 in captivity. Senegals are known for entertaining behaviors like rolling up in a cloth, lying on their back, or hanging upside down. While not prolific talkers, they can mimic sounds with clarity and have a relatively quiet voice, making them suitable for apartment living.
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Subspecies
Poicephalus senegalus senegalus: Yellow vest. Native range: southern Mauritania, southern Mali to Guinea and the Island of Los.
P.s.mesotypus: Orange vest. Native range: eastern and northeastern Nigeria and Cameroon into southwest Chad.
P.s.versteri: Red vest. Native range: Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana east to western Nigeria.
Senegal Parrots As Pets
Hand-reared Senegals make excellent pets, being curious, fun-loving, and mellower compared to other parrots. They are acrobatic, amusing, and can learn to mimic various sounds. While they can bond with one person, early socialization can make them excellent family pets. Wild-caught Senegals do not make good pets due to fear of humans.
Diet
In the wild, Senegals eat seeds, nuts, berries, and fruit. In captivity, a mix of canary grass seed, millet, oats, groats, and various seeds, along with fresh vegetables and fruits, constitutes a balanced diet. Chocolate, avocados, alcohol, and caffeine should be avoided.
