The Adult Senegal parrot has a charcoal grey head; green wings, back and throat; and the lower rump and the breast and abdomen have a distinct yellow to orange v-shaped section – sometimes known as the vest – with the upper breast being a bright green.
General Description
| Name: | Senegal Parrot |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Latin Name: | Poicephalus senegalus | ||
| Life Span: | 40 years | ||
| Length: | 23 – 26 cm | ||
| Weight: | 110 – 125 g | ||
| Wingspan: | 47 – 55 cm | ||
| Sexual Maturity: | Male three to four years, female two and half to three years. | ||
| Breeding Season: | |||
| Clutch: | Three to Four eggs, each egg measuring 29.4 x 26.4 mm in size. | ||
| Nesting: | Holes in trees | ||
| Natural Diet: | Have a diet that consists mostly of fruit, seeds and grain. They may also eat locust beans and young tree buds. | ||
| Gender Difference: | DNA testing is required | ||
Sub-Species
| SUB-SPECIES PROPERTIES |
|
| LATIN NAME | DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|
| Poicephalus senegalus senegalus |  |
| Poicephalus senegalus mesotypus |  |
| Poicephalus senegalus verster |  |
Habitat
Gender Identification
Males and females look alike; however, some theories have been developed to sex these parrots visually. The three most successful ones are listed on top:
The “V” of the vest is usually longer in females, terminating between her legs whereas the males’ “V” ends somewhere between the upper part of the chest or midway down the front.
Head & Beak: The female`s beak and head are generally slightly smaller and narrower than the male`s. Also her head is more rounded at the crown and the male has a flatter crown, as well as a larger beak and head.
The under-tail covert feathers (short feathers under the base of the main tail feathers) are generally pure yellow in the male and yellow-green (mostly green) in the female and immature birds. Mature males with even a hint of green in that area are quite rare. Most of the time, even the slightest trace of green in these feathers indicates a female – although the amount may be so slight that the loss of one single feather can make a female appear pure yellow. This means that there are a few females with the male color pattern.
Status
Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and is listed on Appendix II of Cites.
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