|
African Grey
Psittacus erithacus erithacus
The African Grey Congo is a beautiful, intelligent parrot, that would make a wonderful addition to your family, as long as
you understand their capabilities and have the patience to give them all that they need. Owning a parrot is something that
takes lots of love and time, in order to have a good relationship with them. They have definite needs, and if fulfilled, you
will have a lifelong friend.
There are many attributes to sharing your world with an African Grey Congo. They have the intelligence level of a five-year-old,
yet the emotional level of a two-year-old. It is quite like having a perpetual toddler in your home. If unattended they have
enough abilities to get themselves in trouble, so it is always important to keep an eye on them. Nevertheless, they love to
interact with their family, and will like to be everywhere you are, whether at the kitchen table, or taking a shower. In the
wild, the African Grey is a flock bird, so you and your family are their flock in their eyes. They want to be with you as
much as possible. They do not necessarily have to be on you to interact but like to be included in the family activities whether
it be watching TV or cleaning the house, as long as they are involved some way, they are happy. The African Grey is known
for its talking ability. They usually begin talking anywhere from 3 months to 1 year of age. They are excellent mimics, and
have the ability to not only repeat words and sentences, but just about any sound that is a regular in your household. Telephones,
microwave beeps, coffeepots are easy for them to imitate. They can have in their repertoire as much as 2000 words. Not only
do they speak just as if the person they are imitating is standing right there, they also can feel what we are feeling and
are capable of reacting to our emotions. The do not always just repeat, they can understand some of what they say, by knowing
the right response what is spoken to them. The African Grey Congo is without a doubt, very talented, but they are also very
skittish. They are cautious of strangers, they have to be eased into new toys and new situations, but if you approach them
quietly and calmly winning their trust, they can adapt and be very happy with their human family members. Once they trust
you, they are so loyal, and love to have the back of their heads scratched. They will even snuggle under your chin, which
is more likely to happen at the end of the day, when they are almost ready for sleep and relaxed.
The African Grey Congo is a medium size bird. They can range in size from 12-14" from their beak to their tail. The normal
range for weight is between 400 and 650 grams. The baby parrot will have dark grey, even black eyes until they reach six months
of age. After that, their eyes start to lighten, which is a good way to determine if a parrot is less than six months of age.
From then until about two years, the eyes will be pale grey in color. When they reach adulthood, at approximately three years
of age, they will have a light yellow coloring to their iris. Their beaks are solid black, and after about six to eight weeks
of age, their tail feathers turn a beautiful bright red. Another way to determine a young Grey, is if they have they have
dark grey tips to their feathers. Around their eyes, they are smooth and white. Most of their plumage is light grey, though
some can be a bit darker. Their feet are a dark grey. If given the proper love and nutrition, these birds can live as long
as 50-70 years.
The African Grey Congo originates from Central Africa, from the southeast portion of the Ivory Coast extending to western
Kenya, down to Tanzania and Angola. Greys from Congo can be somewhat larger, and those from Nigeria can be darker in their
wing coverts.
Timneh Grey
Psittacus erithacus timneh
Though the African Grey Timneh may not be as well known as the nominate form, commonly known as the African Grey Congo,
the Timneh should not be overlooked.
These birds, like other parrots, require plenty of your time and attention, and can get quite cranky if they are not paid
the attention and care they require. Both Congo African Greys and Timnehs are shy, cautious birds and can be temperamental.
Timnehs are known for their good temperaments and are often said to be less cranky than their cousins. But with lots of attention,
plenty of toys, and a proper cage, they can be welcomed additions to any parrot lover's household. Don't get a Timneh, though,
if your only requirement is speech. Some of these birds never speak. (And birds do not imitate some people's voices.) Whistling
and making the sounds of appliances (think Microwave oven), squeaking doors, doorbell chimes, telephone rings, and computer
game sound effects are not beyond the reach of a Timneh. They can mimic just about any sound they hear. They have even been
known to make a noise and respond to it; i.e., ring the phone and then say, "Hello," or even continue an entire
one-sided conversation. They are, obviously, very bright pets with the intelligence of a 5 year old. But beware. They also
have the emotions of a 2 year old. And, if you think elephants have good long-term memories, they are total piers compared
to this bird. They are very loyal and will bond for life, which in their case can be up to 70 years. An African Grey Timneh
will expect to be included in all activities, and will especially enjoy joining you for your evening meal, helping himself
to bites off anyone's plate. Maybe even fighting you for his favorites. Didn't we say they are demanding! But don't let this
pet eat from your mouth! Humans have an extraordinary amount of bacteria in their mouths. A Timneh should be given a wide
variety of food, ranging from pellets and seed mixes to fresh fruits, vegetables, and table food. Your bird will certainly
let you know his preferences, but you must take control. A Timneh will gorge on Sunflower seeds to the neglect of more nutritious
offerings. Sunflower seeds are high in fat and should be limited. However, they do need extra calcium, as they are unable
to store it in their bones. Oranges, collard and/or mustard greens, and cooked broccoli are excellent dietary supplements.
Some toxic foods that should be avoided are avocados and chocolate. Also avoid salty foods and dairy products, as they are
difficult for the bird to digest.
An African Grey Timneh is a smaller version of the African Grey Congo (nine to eleven inches from beak to tail). Their
feathers are also darker and they sport a maroon tail, as opposed to the Congo's bright red tail. Their eyes start out being
dark grey or black and lighten, as they age, to their final color of light yellow. Another distinguishing feature of the Timneh
is its lighter beak color on the top. The Congo has an entirely black beak.
African Grey Timnehs come from Central Africa, along with the Congo African Grey.
Red-Bellied Parrot
Poicephalus rufiventris
Often considered to be the show-offs of the parrot world, the Red Bellied Parrot is often not as shy as other parrots, and
some owners report that their birds will talk even more in the presence of company than they do when they are at home with
people they know.
In the wild, Red Bellied Parrots live in small groups or pairs. They eat fruits, seeds, and grain, living in woodlands or
savannas. Although quieter than many parrots, Red Bellied Parrots are good talkers and can produce a variety of noises and
sounds, both learned and instinctive. Although shy at times, Red Bellied Parrots are easily excited by new people and may
talk excessively to attract attention! They are affectionate and loving with people they are familiar with and love attention.
Once Red Bellied Parrots are acclimated, they become quite hardy. Before they are comfortable with their new handlers, they
may be quite shy and some have even died flying into the mesh walls of their cages. After they settle in, Red Bellied Parrots
become quite hardy and confiding. New birds should be allowed temperatures warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit, but after they
are settled, they may be kept at temperatures as low as 50 degrees.
Red Bellied Parrots usually reach maturity at 12 months of age, when they will be about eight and a half inches in length.
Red Bellied Parrots have grayish brown wings, heads, and backs. The lower back has a blue tinge, although it is predominantly
yellow-green. The breasts, under-wing coverts, and cheeks are washed with orange. The under-wing coverts and thighs are aqua
green. Red Bellied Parrots have black periopthalmic rings and red irises. Their bills are black and their feet are gray. Sexing
may be achieved visually; males have orange bellies and females have green bellies. Immatures both have orange coloration
over their bellies.
The Red Bellied Parrot was first officially noted in 1845 by Ruppell. These birds are naturally occurring in eastern Africa,
from central Ethiopia to northern Tanzania. Although wild caught birds may be shy, flighty, or reserved, captive bred and
raised Red Bellied Parrots usually have sweet, confiding personalities and will seek out human attention and company.
Senegal Parrot
Poicephalus senegalus
As a sweet and cuddly bird, the Senegal Parrot makes a favorite pet to many people. These darling talking parrots are
a sweet surprise to all who discover them!
In the wild, Senegal Parrots eat fruits, seeds, and grains. They are generally found in the edges where wooded areas meet
savannah or grassland areas. In captivity, these lovely little birds are quiet but will learn to imitate both noises and speech.
They love playtime and being let out of their cages. Some individuals may bite when they are upset or frustrated. Senegal
Parrots are generally one-person birds, and are usually very affectionate and love to cuddle. In captivity, they are usually
fed a good seed or pellet diet, supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables and are sometimes given lean cooked meat or
pet biscuits as treats. They do well in medium sized cages as long as they are given plenty of time out of their cages to
play and exercise. They are generally described as behaving like "big birds" or being calmer than smaller varieties
of parrot. Senegal Parrots are highly intelligent and, although some individuals may be a bit more excitable than others,
most are quite calm. The average lifespan of the Senegal Parrots is between 20 and 30 years, though individuals can live much
longer with proper care.
At maturity, Senegal Parrots are usually eight to nine inches in length. They have bright yellow eyes. The heads and necks
are generally dark gray to black, as are their wings. The breasts of Senegal Parrots are green, orange, and yellow and have
a yellow V shaped pattern, which can extend down into the abdominal area. This is known as the vest. There are three subspecies
of Senegal Parrots, P. s. senegalus, P. s. versteri, and P. s. Mesotypus, respectively, the nominate, red bellied, and orange
bellied. These subspecies all differ in appearance as well as their natural habitat preferences. The nominate has a yellowish
orange to yellow-green chest pattern, the mesotypus has a flat, burn orange colored chest pattern with yellow under the wings
and paler green on the body, and the red bellied is yellow under the wings and has deep, reddish-orange on the front of the
belly. The distribution of P.s.s is: Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, P.s.m is: eastern and north east Nigeria,
northern Cameroon and southwest Chad, and P.s.v is Ivory Coast and Ghana east to Western Nigeria.
In some areas, Senegal Parrots are considered a nuisance because they have tendencies to raid farmers' crops. They steal
peanuts and corn. Native to north central Africa, the Senegal Parrot makes a popular pet in the United States and Europe,
where they were heavily imported until 1992. After importation became illegal, Senegal Parrots personalities began to improve
through captive breeding and hand raising practice
|
