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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 40 years (captivity) Observations: One specimen lived for 40 years in captivity (Brouwer et al. 2000).
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Untitled

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The lifespan of P. senegalus is 20-25 years (Welch 1997).

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Kristel Koehler, University of California, Irvine
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Rudi Berkelhamer, University of California, Irvine
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Behavior

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Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Kristel Koehler, University of California, Irvine
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Conservation Status

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Poicephalus senegalus is considered common. Population density varies with the availabilty of food in each area (Arndt et al. 1996).

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Kristel Koehler, University of California, Irvine
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Benefits

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Poicephalus senegalus are viewed as pests by farmers. They often eat seeds from the farmers' fields of maize and millet, or steal peanuts that have been left out to dry. Many P. senegalus are trapped and killed for that reason (Hilton 1997; Poole 1997).

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Kristel Koehler, University of California, Irvine
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Rudi Berkelhamer, University of California, Irvine
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Trophic Strategy

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Poicephalus senegalus have a diet that consists mostly of fruit, seeds and grain. They may also eat locust beans and young tree buds.

When in captivity, P. senegalus are usually fed some sort of seed mixture that includes sunflower and safflower seeds, millet, pine nuts, almonds. They may also eat a variety of beans, chickpeas, soy beans, and other fresh vegetables and fruits. Some P. senegalus even enjoy chicken and mashed potatoes, or dog and cat biscuits (Hilton 1997; Welch 1997).

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Kristel Koehler, University of California, Irvine
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Distribution

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Poicephalus senegalus are found in western central Africa: Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Guinea, Southern Mauritania, the Island of Los and the Ivory Coast (Hilton 1997; Birdie Boutique 2000).

Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Habitat

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Poicephalus senegalus live on the edges of the savanna, nesting in trees (Hilton 1997) .

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Kristel Koehler, University of California, Irvine
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Life Expectancy

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Average lifespan
Status: captivity:
40 years.

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Kristel Koehler, University of California, Irvine
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Morphology

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The head of P. senegalus is gray in color, including the beak. The wings, back, tailfeathers and parts of the breast are green (shades of which vary by bird). The green at the breast is in the shape of a "v", making it appear as if the P. senegalus are wearing a vest. The underside (belly) ranges from bright yellow to orange. The eyes, while starting out gray in the young, end up yellow in mature adults. Feet are either gray or pink.

It is difficult to physically distinguish male P. senegalus from female. Usually DNA tests or surgical sexing is required for 100% accuracy. There are however, a few physical traits which may identify the bird as male or female. Female P. senegalus tend to have a smaller head and beak, as well being more rounded at the crest. In addition, the feather coloring of the chest tends to extend the "v" shape further down the belly, stopping between the legs. The "v" on the male only goes halfway down the front and males also tend to have a larger head and beak.

Poicephalus senegalus range from 20-25cm in length (Birdie Boutique 2000; CNC Aviary 2001; Hilton 1997; Welch 1997).

Range mass: 115 to 125 g.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Kristel Koehler, University of California, Irvine
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Rudi Berkelhamer, University of California, Irvine
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Reproduction

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Not much information is known about the way P. senegalus breed in the wild, except that they nest in tall trees and their mating season is from September to November.

In captivity, they are housed in pairs in a sheltered aviary. Poicephalus senegalus females sexually mature around the age of 2 years, males at 3 years, although they may not breed until much later (even as late as 6-7 years). Usually between 2-4 eggs are laid at a time and the incubation of these eggs (by the female) lasts for 25-28 days. The young begin to venture out at about nine weeks old, but are not fully independent until 12 weeks (Arndt et al. 1996; Birdie Boutique 2000; Hilton 1997) .

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous

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Koehler, K. 2001. "Poicephalus senegalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Poicephalus_senegalus.html
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Senegal parrot

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The Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) is a parrot which is a resident breeder across a wide range of west Africa.[1][2] It makes migrations within west Africa,[1] according to the availability of the fruit, seeds and blossoms which make up its diet. It is considered a farm pest in Africa, often feeding on maize or millet.[2] It is popular in aviculture.[3]

Taxonomy

A pair of Senegal parrots in the wild at Hann Park, Dakar, Senegal

In 1760 the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of the Senegal parrot in his Ornithologie based on a specimen collected in Senegal. He used the French name La petite perruche du Sénégal and the Latin name Psittacula senegalensis.[4] Although Brisson coined Latin names, these do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognised by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.[5] When in 1766 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the twelfth edition he added 240 species that had been previously described by Brisson.[5] One of these was the Senegal parrot. Linnaeus included a terse description, coined the binomial name Psittacus senegalus and cited Brisson's work.[6] This species is now placed in the genus Poicephalus which was introduced by the English naturalist William John Swainson in 1837.[7]

There are two subspecies.[8]

They do not differ in behaviour, but only in the colour of the "vest".[2] In the pet trade, the nominate subspecies is the most common though both are raised and sold as pets.

Description

Senegal parrots are about 23 centimetres (9.1 inches) long, weigh about 120 to 170 grams (4.2 to 6.0 ounces).[2] They have a relatively large head and beak for their overall size, and feathers form a short broad tail. Adults have a charcoal grey head, grey beak, bright yellow irises,[2] green back and throat, and yellow underparts and rump. The yellow and green areas on a Senegal parrot's front form a V-shape resembling a yellow vest worn over green. Young Juveniles have dark grey, almost black, irises, which change to light grey.

Senegal parrots are not sexually dimorphic, but there are some hypotheses which sometimes might help to determine the gender of adult birds:

  • The V-shape of the vest is usually longer in females; in females the green area extends down over the chest to between the legs, whereas in males the tip of the green area ends midway down the chest.[2]
  • The female's beak and head are generally slightly smaller and narrower than the male's.[2]
  • The under-tail covert feathers (short feathers under the base of the main tail feathers) are generally mostly yellow in the male and generally mostly green in the female.[2]
  • Males are generally, but not always, larger and heavier than female birds.[2]
  • DNA testing is another way to determine the sex [9]

Senegal parrots are birds of open woodland and savanna.[1][2] They flock most commonly in countries in West Africa.[10] It is a gregarious species, continuously chattering with a range of whistling and squawking calls. Senegal parrots live an average of approximately 25–30 years in the wild, and have been known to live for 50 years in captivity.[11]

Research by Texas State University conducted in southeastern Senegal found that the parrots ate a diet of about 77% fruit, with figs (Ficus sp.), African grapes (Lannea microcarpa), and shea fruits (Vitellaria paradoxa) being the most commonly eaten. Seeds made up about 22% of the diet, and the remaining 1% consisted of flowers.[12]

Behaviour

One parrot is feeding the other as part of bonding behaviour between a pair.

Senegal parrots nest in holes in trees, often oil palms, usually laying three to four white eggs.[3] The eggs are about 3 centimetres (1.2 inches) long by 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) 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 after hatching. They are dependent on the female for food and warmth who remains in the nest most of the time until about four weeks after 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 after 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 after hatching.[2]

Conservation status

Because of its vast range in Africa, the wild Senegal parrot population is difficult to estimate.[1] Nevertheless, in 1981 concerns about extensive trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade led to it being listed on appendix 2 of The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), along with all parrot species.[1] This has made the trade, import and export of all wild caught parrots illegal.

Aviculture

Pets

Pet parrot in a cage with toys. The perch is made from a hard material in an attempt to wear down the tips of claws. However, these type of perches tend to cause lesions on the bottoms of the feet and are not very effective at keeping the nails short.

Hand reared Senegal parrots are one of the most popular parrots to be kept as pets,[1] and the most popular Poicephalus parrot.[3] Their calls are generally high pitched whistles and squawks along with mimics, but they are not as noisy as many other parrot species.[1] They make for a good companion and are quite friendly compared to other parrot species. Senegal parrots are independent at times, needing a very fair amount of sleep during the day. Keeping two as pets can very well aid the parrots social and physical health as they have a companion.

Wild caught Senegal parrots do not usually become tame, and do not make good pets.[2]

Breeding

Senegal parrots are relatively easy to breed in captivity and there is a small industry in breeding and hand rearing Senegal parrots and other parrots for the pet trade. In aviculture Senegal parrots can start to breed at the age of 3 to 4 years in captivity, but some do not breed until age 5 years. Parent reared birds are known to breed as early as 2 years of age.[2]

Senegal parrot nest boxes can be any of a variety of sizes and shapes; but for example, a nest box about 18 inches (46 centimetres) high and 8 inches (20 centimetres) to 10 inches (25 centimetres) square would be suitable.[2] An exit and entrance port about 2.5 inches (6.4 centimetres) in diameter would be suitable, and the birds may enlarge the port by chewing the wood. Nest boxes generally have a secure side door for inspecting the nest.

Gallery

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h BirdLife International (2019). "Poicephalus senegalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22685295A155304773. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22685295A155304773.en.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "wingsscc.com - senegal parrot". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d Alderton, David (2003). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Caged and Aviary Birds. London, England: Hermes House. p. 222. ISBN 1-84309-164-X.
  4. ^ Brisson, Mathurin Jacques (1760). Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés (in French and Latin). Vol. 4. Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche. pp. 400–402, Plate 23 fig 2. The two stars (**) at the start of the section indicates that Brisson based his description on the examination of a specimen.
  5. ^ a b Allen, J.A. (1910). "Collation of Brisson's genera of birds with those of Linnaeus". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 28: 317–335. hdl:2246/678.
  6. ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1766). Systema naturae : per regna tria natura, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 1 (12th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 149.
  7. ^ Swainson, William John (1837). On the Natural History and Classification of Birds. Vol. 2. London: John Taylor. p. 301.
  8. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2018). "Parrots, cockatoos". World Bird List Version 8.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Bird DNA Testing | Bird Sexing Test | DNA Diagnostics Center". DDC. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  10. ^ Juniper, Tony; Parr, Mike (2003). Parrots - A Guide to the Parrots of the World. London, England: Christopher Helm. p. 379. ISBN 0-7136-6933-0.
  11. ^ "Senegal Parrots aka Yellow-vented Parrots". Archived from the original on 1 June 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  12. ^ Reyes, Kaleigh R. Feeding ecology and habitat use of the Senegal parrot at Fongoli : possible implications for sympatric chimpanzees. OCLC 1122933549.

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Senegal parrot: Brief Summary

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The Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) is a parrot which is a resident breeder across a wide range of west Africa. It makes migrations within west Africa, according to the availability of the fruit, seeds and blossoms which make up its diet. It is considered a farm pest in Africa, often feeding on maize or millet. It is popular in aviculture.

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