Range: North West, Equatorial Africa

Habitat: Varied, prefers grasslands

Natural Diet: Seeds, fruits

Diet at Rain Forest: Fresh fruits and vegetables with seed supplements

Size: 6-8" tall

Rain Forest Facts:

The genus Poicephalus comprises 10 species of parrots native to various regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal in the west, Ethiopia in the east, and to Cape Horn in the south. Several of the species exist in slightly different forms (or subspecies).

They are stocky birds with short broad tails and relatively large heads and beaks for their size. (Poicephalus, from the Greek, literally means made of head.) They feed primarily on seeds, fruits, nuts, and leafy matter.

There are three recognized subspecies of the Senegal Parrot.  They vary in color and can generally be told apart based on these variances. 

This species of parrot is often considered a pest by local farmers as they frequent farmlands for the seeds from human crops. 

Senegal Parrots are birds of open woodland and savanna.

 The Senegal is a gregarious species, often living with literally dozens of other birds of it's kind. The bird will continuously chatter with a range of whistling and squawking calls. Senegal Parrots live an average of approximately 30-35 years in the wild, and have been known to live for 50-60 years in captivity

Senegal parrots nest in holes in trees, often oil palms, usually laying two to three white eggs. The eggs are about 3cm long x 2.5cm wide. The eggs are incubated by the female, starting after the second egg has been laid, for about 27 to 28 days. Newly hatched chicks have a sparse white down and they do not open their eyes until about two to three weeks from hatching. They are dependent on the female for food and warmth who remains in the nest most of the time until about four weeks from hatching when the chicks have enough feathers for heat insulation. During this time the male brings food for the female and chicks, and guards the nest site. From about two to four weeks from hatching the female also begins to collect food for the chicks. The chicks fly out of the nest at about 9 weeks and they become independent from their parents at about 12 weeks from hatching

Status in Wild: Stable