Today, many people want to have a little companion. And there is no better choice than a Senegalese parrot. Customer reviews about this bird are only the most positive.
A small budgie (about 20 centimeters) can become your reliable friend and companion. He, like no one else, is able to understand you, your jokes, laughter and voice. To imitate in a funny voice, to execute more than 20 of the most diverse teams in 2 minutes - and this is far from all that the Senegalese parrot can do.
The price of a bird ranges from 250 to 700 US dollars. But, believe me, the parrot justifies this money for all 100!
Where are you from
The Senegalese long-winged parrot got its name from its habitat - the African state of Senegal. In general, Africa is the birthplace of the bird.
The largest congestion of parrots can be observed in the southwestern and western parts of the continent. The humid forests and savannas of Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal - this is where there is expanse for them. Bird nests prefer to twist not in the crowns of trees, like the rest of their relatives, but in hollows. They want to excel in everything.
Appearance
The Senegalese parrot is painted very beautifully and brightly. Its wings and back are dark green in color, and its head is gray. The abdomen of parrots comes in two colors: yellow or orange. It depends on the subspecies. The bird has very beautiful and unusual eyes: black with a bright yellow iris. They seem to see through the interlocutor. From the eyes of a parrot, you can even determine in what mood he is. Senegal has a black and sharp beak. How sharp he is, you can see if you scare or angry the bird. The tail is dark green.
An adult Senegalese parrot grows up to 20 centimeters. But its small size does not affect intelligence. In terms of intelligence and quick wits, he is in no way inferior to the big parrot the jaco. It weighs about 150 grams.
Senegal is a long-liver. Moreover, at home, he lives much longer than in the wild. There were times when the birds lived to be 50 years old.
Classification
Three subspecies of Senegalese parrots live in nature. One is the main subspecies; it bears the name of the species itself. This is due to the fact that it was opened much earlier than the other two and immediately received its main name.
The difference between the subspecies of the Senegalese parrot is the color of the belly. Each subspecies has its own.
So, the main subspecies - senegalus - has a yellow or orange-yellow abdomen. The parrots of the subspecies versteri can boast red-yellow, or even completely red. And the birds of the mesotypus subspecies have a rich orange hue.
There are also slight differences in the color of the plumage. More precisely, in its brightness and saturation. At the main subspecies, it is mostly green. In the subspecies versteri, the feathers are much darker. A parrot subspecies mesotypus, on the contrary, is paler.
How to determine the age of the bird
To do this, you need to know the following several factors:
1. Up to 6 months, Senegalese parrots have completely black eyes.
2. Until 1 year, the abdomen will have a lemon tint. Older birds have yellow-orange.
3. The older the Senegalese parrot, the brighter and richer the iris of his eyes will be.
In general, after the bird is 6 months old, it is very difficult to determine its age. Only DNA analysis can do this with precision. All other methods are individual in nature and can only approximately determine which of the parrots in the flock is older and which is younger.
Content
The older the parrot, the more difficult it is to tame it. Therefore, it is best to take very small ones - up to 6 months. Senegalese parrot is a very smart bird. In terms of intelligence, it is not inferior to the larger representatives - Jaco and Are. Senegal can easily distinguish one person from another. These birds are very attached to their owners. But other people are not so kindly treated. In general, Senegal hate competition. They do not get along well with other
species of parrots. Therefore, it is better to keep them separately.
The Senegalese parrot speaks quite a lot and clearly. It perfectly conveys the intonation and emotional tone of speech. This is not possible, for example, budgies. Senegal has a quiet and peculiar voice. Someone may not like it. Therefore, before buying a bird, listen to how it says.
These parrots are mobile and like spacious cages. The most optimal size for their future house is 80-90-80 centimeters. It’s like cages for big parrots like a jaco. Be sure to equip a dark corner in which the bird will hide in case of danger. And, of course, the arrangement. Arrange as many thick branches and twigs in the cage as possible so that the parrot can grind its sharp claws. Put also a small bath with water. Senegal love to swim.
What to feed
First of all, you need to know what the parrot is contraindicated.
This is protein food. In no case do not feed the bird with egg, bread or cheese. This can lead to serious illness. Also limit nuts - this is a direct way to obesity.
It is best to feed Senegal with special feeds for medium-sized birds, which can be purchased at any pet store. Also include fresh vegetables, berries and fruits in his diet. Outside parrots love to eat flowers. But be careful here, as many of the indoor plants are poisonous to birds. Be sure to parrot the grass and twigs. In the spring you can drink it with birch sap.
In addition to the food trough, there should be a second bowl with mineral stones in the cage. They are simply necessary so that the food in the bird is well processed and assimilated.