Are Senegal Parrots Loud?

Senegal parrots (Poicephalus Senegalus) are medium-sized (about 9 inches long) birds originating from western Africa. They are mostly green in color, shading to a more yellow color toward the rump, with a tail that is more of a brown-green. They have bright orange vests, brown legs and a gray head and beak with yellow eyes. Their lifespan can be 30 or more years. They range in price from $250 to $700, depending on whether they are purchased from a store or from a breeder.

  1. Vocalization

    • Senegals are not considered to be noisy birds in comparison with other birds of a similar size, but keep in mind that any sufficiently bored, frightened or angry parrot may develop bad habits such as screaming. Interacting with the bird, providing toys and removing any stimulus that may be frightening to the bird are the keys to solving this problem.

      Senegals are good at mimicking sounds and can learn to talk if taught and interacted with from an early age. In the wild, their calls consist of screeches and high-pitched whistles.

    Housing

    • Parrots require a lot of room in which to climb and stretch their wings. The minimum caging requirements of a bird this size is 30 inches high by 36 inches long by 30 inches wide. There should be perches of varying sizes and heights, and the spacing of the bars should be ¾ inch apart. Provide the bird with toys to play with and chew on -- enough to provide variety, but not so much that there is no room for the bird.

    Personality/Behavior

    • Senegals are somewhat shy birds and need a lot of handling to remain tame. They have engaging personalities with a variety of behaviors such as hanging upside down. They have very strong beaks and like to chew on things. If they have not been socialized from a young age with other birds, they can be very territorial and aggressive.

    Feeding

    • In the wild, Senegals eat fruit, seeds, corn, rice, vegetables and the occasional insect. As a pet, they require about 65 to 80 percent percent commercial diet, 15 to 30 percent vegetables and 5 percent fresh fruit. Do not give Senegals avocados, fruit pits or chocolate; these foods may not be safe for them to eat.