Senegal Parrot
One of the best intermediate parrots — smaller and quieter than large parrots but more interactive and intelligent than budgies or cockatiels.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
Senegal
Lifespan
20–30 years
Weight
120–160 g
Height
23–25 cm
Diet
Herbivore — parrot pellets, fresh vegetables, fruit, seeds. Balanced diet. Avoid avocado, chocolate, onion.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Psittaciformes
Family
Psittacidae
Genus
Poicephalus
The Story
One of the best intermediate parrots — smaller and quieter than large parrots but more interactive and intelligent than budgies or cockatiels. Native to West Africa's open woodland. Relatively quiet, compact, and less demanding than cockatoos or macaws, making them suitable for apartment life. They tend to become strongly bonded to one person and may be aggressive toward others — a personality trait their owners call being a "one-person bird."
Also Known As
Quick Facts
Discover which pets match your lifestyle
Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
Dark grey head, green back and wings, and a distinctive V-shaped orange or yellow-orange "vest" on the abdomen. The compact stocky build with a relatively short tail and rounded head is characteristic of all Poicephalus parrots.
Grooming
Low
Shedding
Low
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Calm and less demanding than cockatoos or macaws. Playful and interactive with their bonded person. Can be one-person birds to an extreme — consistent socialisation with multiple family members from early age prevents this.
Living Profile
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •Minimum cage 60 × 60 × 90 cm. 2–3 hours daily interaction. All family members should handle the bird regularly. Generally manageable noise level — suitable for apartments.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Health Overview
Aspergillosis. Feather plucking. Generally a healthy species.
Common Conditions
Fun Facts
Three Senegal subspecies differ primarily in the vest colour — yellow (senegalus), orange (mesotypus), and red-orange (versteri).
