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| PET GAZETTE | AVIAN
SENEGAL
PARROTS
In this month’s avian column,
John Courteney-Smith looks at the
behaviour, temperament and advised
care of Senegal Parrots
H
umans have a long
history of interacting with
and keeping birds as pets
and of course for food.
In terms of pet keeping,
Parrots make for a very
attractive option. Not only do they tend to be
highly coloured which is pleasing to the eye,
but many also display human traits such as
by being highly sociable, interactive and of
course having the ability to mimic.
There are many species of Parrot available
within aviculture representing all colours,
sizes and temperaments. As sellers and
keepers, it is up to us to steer would-be
new owners towards groups of species that
not only become lifelong friends, but that
are also suited to the life and wellbeing of
the bird and the prospective owner. Ethical
selling plays a large role here as it can help
to ensure that both bird and keeper remain
happy and contented, this is one of the most
important parts of effective and ethical pet
retail. One thing is for sure, an unhappy
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or ill cared for Parrot always equates to
an unhappy owner - usually with battered
eardrums and bleeding fingers.
The Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus
is a rather small and cheeky looking,
colourful Parrot originating over large parts
of west Africa. This is a species that had
been imported into the UK and over much
of the world in very large numbers and very
low prices before the ban of imported birds
was enacted just over a dozen years or so
ago. Even up into the 2000s, freshly arrived
young birds could be retailed at around £50,
sometimes even less. This means, like all
birds for sale now in the EU, that the young
birds available to us will have originated from
captive parents and many of these will have
been hand reared.
The lower numbers available and the
time and skills needed to hand rear these
birds has pushed the price up somewhat,
this places the correct value on the bird and
dissuades many from purchasing, what
will be for some, a lifelong investment on
impulse.
All Parrots have their own personalities
and expectations as do their owners. Some
would-be keepers are able to dedicate large
quantities of space and have the time and
lack of neighbours needed to properly care
for the large Macaws, while the rest have
less space and require smaller, quieter
and more manageable birds. This is where
species such as the Senegal - its close
relative the Meyers Parrot, Jardines and
some of the Conures - can be considered.
The Senegal Parrot is a small short tailed
typical Parrot with a total length of around
8-9”. They are a typical wooded scrubland
savannah species being fast flying, flocking
and moving within the locality throughout
the seasons to find food and water. This is
a social species moving in flocks of 20-50
birds. They are very opportunistic in their
feeding and will take a wide range of fruits,
berries, nuts, seeds and flowers in the wild.
This is a hot sun rich environment and one in
which this species can thrive.
October 2018