Guide to Meyer's Parrots

Distribution and Habitat

• The Meyer's parrot is native to central and eastern Africa. In the wild, it prefers a moist woodland habitat. The edges of savannas are also where the parrot chooses to live. As a pet, you should provide an indoor or outdoor cage, ideally 40 inches long and 32 inches high. The parrot needs a play area and three different sized perches. Also, provide toys to keep the parrot entertained.

Subspecies

• Six subspecies of Meyer's parrot exist. They can be recognized by the coloring on their head and belly. The Poicephalus meyeri meyeri has yellow on its head and a turquoise/blue belly. The Poicephalus meyeri saturates has a yellow head and green belly. The Poicephalus meyeri trasvaalensis also has a yellow head as well as a greenish belly. The Poicephalus meyeri damarensis and Poicephalus meyeri reichenowi subspecies have a turquoise belly and no yellow on their head.

Length and Weight

• The parrot is a relatively small bird. An adult Meyer's parrot grows up to 8.2 inches. It can weight between 3.52 and 4.76 ounces.

Diet

• A wild Meyer's parrot eats nuts, berries, fruit, cultivated grain and seeds. As a pet, the parrot eats seed mixes that include canary seed, oats, groats, linseed and white millet. Other seed mixes to give the bird include sesame, safflower, anise and thistle. The parrot needs fresh foods to add variety to its diet. This can include sweet corn, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, zucchini, bananas, apricots, eggplant and spinach leaves.

Call

• The parrot's call is a series of screech with brief pauses. In the wild, the bird in flight will duet with one another. A flock of parrots are heard by a chorus of excitement calls. A pet parrot will call by mimicking.