African parrots - HarlequinParrots.co.uk

Senegals, Meyers, Brown-headed, Red-bellied and Ruppell's This group of small poicephalus parrots are dispersed throughout the African continent. All are of similar size but vary in the colours, and in the degree of colour variations between sub-species and in the colour differences between sexes.

Senegal (p.senegalus)
These parrots are quite commonly kept in captive collections. There are three sub-species. Mostly those birds seen in collections are now of mixed races due to the similarity of the sub-species.

Senegalus, senegalus are of a pale light green colour with dark grey head colouration. Lower breast and abdomen yellow to orange yellow.

Senegalus mesotypus are of a darker green with lighter grey head colouration. Green extends to lower abdomen area. Abdomen orange.

Senegalus versteri are as senegalus but green on back and wings darker almost olive green in colour with lower breast and abdomen yellowish orange to orange red centre. These pure sub-specie Senegals have not been often imported so are quite scare in captive collections.

Photos above (left to right): Orange-breasted, Red-breasted and Yellow-breasted Senegals

Meyer (p.meyeri)
There is six- sub species recognised

Meyeri, meyeri generally distinguished by their bluish- green chest and abdomen like turquoise appearance. They have only a narrow yellow band across the head.

Meyeri, saturatus is greener in chest and abdomen colouration with in general larger patches of yellow on the head.

Meyeri matchei vary from turquoise to light blue chest and abdomen, with a broad yellow band across the head.

Meyeri transvaalensis is a darker blue chest and abdomen with a narrow yellow band across the head.

Meyeri damarensis is blue chest and abdomen without and yellow feathers on the head.

Meyeri, reichenowi has turquoise to blue chest and abdomen with no yellow feathers on the head.

In general it is difficult to know how many of these pure sub-specie variations exist in captive collections, and mostly the Meyer parrots available are of mixed hybrids. But it is still possible to see examples of “saturatus” and “machei” but it is less likely to see the others.It is also the case that some of the sub- species have hybridised in the wild due to the changes of agriculture and habitat causing these parrots to occupy the same feeding grounds.

Photos above (left to right): damarensis, saturatus and transvaalensis Meyers

Brown-headed parrots (p.crytoxanthus)
There are two recognised sub-species c.tanganyikae and c.zanzibaricus these parrots live in small groups or pairs along water courses close to forests and mangroves. They have been imported sparodically over the years but not in large numbers.

Red-bellied & Ruppell's -This group of Poicephalus parrots show significant colour variations or dimorphic between the cocks and hens when matured. These types are less often seen in parrot collections, but the Red Bellied is more often kept than the Ruppells

Red-bellied parrots (p.rufiventris)
These parrots not often seen in the wild prefer to remain in individual pairs rather than flocks. They inhabit the savannah, thornbush and acacia scrubland. The cocks have a bright red chest and abdomen and the hens have green chest and abdomen. They tend to have quite a good ability for mimicry in relation to their small size. There is a rather dubious sub-specie with paler colours to the head and chest recognised as r.pallidus.

Ruppells Parrots (p.rueppellii)
Again not often seen in the wild, tending to remain in pairs or small groups. Prefers to nest in very tall trees and lives near to water courses. The cocks have grey chest and abdomen, but the hens in the abdomen, rump and upper tail coverts are cobalt blue. They have yellow patches on the bends of the wings and on the lower leg just above the foot as a narrow band.

Photos above (left to right) : Brown-headed, Red-bellied and Ruppells parrots

Jardines (p.gulielmi)
The three sub -species are kept in captivity, mostly seen are the g.gulielmi and then the g.fantiensis and least often seen g.massaicus. They are fairly quiet medium sized parrots. There is no obvious dimorphic colour variation between the hens & cocks.

Gulielmi, gulielmi is sometimes been referred as the “black winged parrot” it has black brown wing feathers tinged with green edging. Orange red patches varies across head, also on bends of wings and as bands above feet.

Gulielmi, fantiensis has generally lighter green plumage. Broader green edging on wings. Patches of orange and yellow across head and on bends of wings.

Gulielmi, massaicus has paler green feathering and black wing feathers with broader green edging than gulielmi. Usually much less red on the head and very slight appearance on bends of wings

Photos above (left to right): fantiensis, gulielmi and last 2 massaicus Jardines

Cape parrot (p.robustus)

The larger of the poicephalus parrots. Have a characteristically very large beak for the size of parrot. Is probably the most noisy of the poicephalus parrots but not as loud or persistent as most Amazons. Here there is distinctive colour variations or dimorphism between the hens and cocks.The hens normally retaining the orange head feather colouration or cap above the beak. The cocks tend to loose these orange coloured feathers as the mature into adults.

Robustus, robustus is the cocks having brownish grey head and green chest and abdomen. Short horn coloured bill. The wings have a blackish appearance with broad green edging. The hens are similar but have narrow orange frontal band.

Robustus, suahelicus which is similar to the nominate race but with the head more silvery grey and having a orange tinge.R

Robustus fusicollis is similar to the suahelicus but breast and back turquoise green.

Photos above (left to right): fusicollis and suahelicus Cape parrots

Specialist Poicephalus breeders:

http://www.poicephalusstamboek.org/index.html

http://www.poicephalus.nl/indexx.htm

http://www.langfluegelpapagei.beepworld.de/index.htm

Other African parrots

Greys (psittacus erithacus)

Perhaps the best known parrot in captivity, many thousands have been imported over the years into Europe and elsewhere.Their mimicry ability is probably the best of all living creatures. Highly intelligent inquisitive, it is no wonder these are the most popular parrot pets. However there are two recognised subspecies, perhaps a third is identified but in the main the two most distinctive are the Grey Conco and the Grey Timneh.

Greys (p.erithacus erithacus)

The larger of the two subspecies and having all dark grey beak and bright crimson red tail feathers, this race is the most likely seen for sale. Lives in Central and West Africa in lowland forest areas.

Where do African Greys live and where do the variations come from ?

http://www.africanature.com/Project%20Africa/wildgreys.htm#Top

The Special Intelligence of African Greys

http://www.alexfoundation.org/index.html

Grey-Timneh (p.erithacus timneh)

This race is less common in the wild and lives in Sierra Leona, Liberia and Western Ivory Coast. This Grey has the destinctive upper beak horn coloured and dark maroon tail feathers.

Vasa parrots (coracopsis)

These unusual parrots are not often found in captive collections. They are parrots living on the South Eastern African Islands. There are three subspecies, but most likely seen are the Greater Vasa (c.vasa) and the Lesser (Western) Vasa (v.drouhardi). These both inhabitat the island of Madagascar.

The other subspecie is the Comoro Vasa (v.comorensis) living on the Island of the same name.

They are known to have quite melodic calls.

Photos above (left to right): African, Timneh Grey and Vasa parrot