Blue and Gold Macaw  

Also Known As: Blue and Yellow Macaw, Yellow-breasted Macaw, Blue Macaw

Species Profile

Genus:
Ara

Species:
ararauna

Size:	Adult Weight:
86 cm (33.5 in)	1040-1286g (36.4-45 oz)

Races including nominate:
one

Colourization Adult: Both adults bright blue above, mostly golden-yellow below; with long blue and yellow tail; bare white facial disc with fine lines of green feathers; throat black; crown and forehead green. Large black/grey bill. Eye yellow.

Colourization Juvenile: As in adult but with grey/brown eye.

Call: Loud raucous calls, some harsh. Most calls gutteral with varying sounds. 

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Yellow-fronted Parrot

Yellow-fronted Parrot  

Also Known As: Yellow-faced Parrot, Shoa Parrot

Species Profile

Genus:
Poicephalus

Species:
flavifrons

Size:	Adult Weight:
28cm (11 in)	Not available

Races including nominate:
Possibly two: P.f. flavifrons, P.f. aurantiiceps

Colourization Adult: 
P.f. flavifrons: medium sized parrot; mainly green plumage with bright yellow face and crown; tail olive/brown; thighs and carpal edge occasionally marked yellow; dark upper, pale lower mandible. Eye orange/red. Bare cere and eye ring grey. P.f. aurantiiceps: as in flavifrons but face yellow washed with orange.

Colourization Juvenile: As in adult but face duller yellow/olive green. Eye brown.

Call: Loud, shrill whistles and screeches. 

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Vasa Parrot  

Also Known As: Greater Vasa Parrot (C.v. vasa), Western Vasa Parrot (C.v. drouhardi), Comoro Vasa Parrot (C.v. comorensis)

Species Profile

Genus:
Coracopsis

Species:
vasa

Size:	Adult Weight:
50cm (19.5 in)	480g (16.8 oz)

Races including nominate:
three: C.v. vasa, C.v. drouhardi, C.v. comorensis

Colourization Adult: C.v. vasa: male-grey/black, more grey on upperparts; grey undertail coverts, shafts of feathers streaked black; outer webs of primary feathers blue/grey; brown/black tail, grey underneath. Bill pink/horn coloured. Lores and eye ring bare and pink/white. Eye dark brown. Female: as in male but when breeding loses feathers from head to reveal yellow/orange skin. C.v. drouhardi: both adults paler, more blue/grey on upperparts; grey/white undertail coverts and underside of tail; tail with darker subterminal band; smaller in size. C.v. comorensis: both adults paler in colour; brown tinged underparts; undertail coverts grey/brown with shafts streaked darker; smaller in size.

Colourization Juvenile: As in adult but more brown plumage; feathers of underparts marked chestnut brown. Bill grey. Cere, lores, and eye ring bare and pale grey.

Call: Wide range of sounds. Whistling, puppy-like yapping, harsh squawks, raucous calls, and vibrating, grating sounds. 

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Timneh Parrot

Timneh Parrot

Species Profile

Genus:
Psittacus

Species:
timneh

Size:	Adult Weight:
30cm (11.7 in)	320g (11.2 oz)

Races including nominate:
one

Colourization Adult: Both adults dark grey in colour, paler on rump and abdomen; dark grey lower undertail coverts tinged with dark red; dark burgundy tail, the feathers edged with brown. Upper mandible dark red tipped with black, lower mandible black; smaller in size.

Colourization Juvenile: As in adults but with grey tinged lower undertail coverts; tail tipped with red. Eye dark grey to black.

Call: Variety of whistles, squawks, shrieks, and screams given at rest and in flight; mimics other birds, and mammals.

Senegal Parrot  

Also Known As: Yellow-bellied Senegal Parrot (P.s. senegalus); Yellow-vented Senegal Parrot (P.s. mesotypus); Orange-breasted Senegal Parrot, Orange-bellied Senegal Parrot, Red-vented Senegal Parrot, Scarlet-bellied Senegal Parrot (P.s. versteri)

Species Profile

Genus:
Poicephalus

Species:
senegalus

Size:	Adult Weight:
23cm (9 in)	155g (5.4 oz)

Races including nominate:
three: P.s. senegalus, P.s. versteri, P.s. mesotypus

Colourization Adult: 
P.s. senegalus: both adults mostly green, yellow on rump; head grey with dark crown, yellow lower breast and abdomen, tinged orange in centre; bright yellow underwing coverts and undertail coverts; thighs green. Bill grey; bare cere and eye ring dark grey. Eye yellow.
P.s. versteri: as in senegalus, but darker green upperparts; lower breast to abdomen orange/red in centre. P.s. mesotypus: paler than senegalus; green breast extends more down toward orange abdomen.

Colourization Juvenile: Juvenile generally duller than adult; breast and abdomen green suffusion. Bill pink/white tipped grey. Eye ring pale grey, eye dark brown.

Call: Noisy with large variety of mainly harsh and high-pitched screeches, squawks and whistles. More raucous when excited. 

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Ruppell's Parrot

 Ruppell's Parrot

Species Profile

Genus:
Poicephalus

Species:
rueppellii

Size:	Adult Weight:
22cm (8.6 in)	105-132g (3.7-4.6 oz)

Races including nominate:
one

Colourization Adult: Male- in general slate/brown colour; silver/grey ear coverts; dull blue suffusion on brown rump and undertail coverts; yellow bend of wing, lesser wing coverts and underwing coverts; yellow thighs tinted with orange. Bill grey/black. Bare cere and eye ring grey/black. Eye orange/red. Female- deep blue on lower back to upper tail coverts; duller blue on lower abdomen to undertail coverts.

Colourization Juvenile: As in female but duller plumage; rump and uppertail coverts paler; lower abdomen to undertail coverts brown washed with dull blue; brown thighs and lesser wing coverts. Bill horn coloured. Cere and eye ring paler grey. Eye brown.

Call: Monotonous, quick and sharp notes. Alarm calls shrieks increasing in pitch. Quieter than other Poicephalus. 

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Niam niam Parrot

Niam niam Parrot
 

Species Profile

Genus:
Poicephalus

Species:
crassus

Size:	Adult Weight:
25cm (9.75 in)	Not available

Races including nominate:
one

Colourization Adult: Both adults brown head and neck tinged with olive/yellow; olive/brown throat and breast; silver/grey ear coverts; green underwing coverts; olive/brown tail tipped with dull green. Grey/brown upper mandible tipped with black, yellow lower. Cere and eye ring bare and dark brown/grey. Eye yellow.

Colourization Juvenile: Grey/brown crown and nape strongly marked with olive/yellow; yellow edging on inner secondary feathers. Yellow upper mandible tipped with dark grey, yellow lower.

Call: Calls made in flight or when perched are very sharp, which can be heard at some distance. Becomes more high-pitched with alarm.

Red bellied Parrot  

Also Known As: Orange-bellied Parrot, African Orange-bellied Parrot, Red-breasted Parrot, Abyssinian Parrot

Species Profile

Genus:
Poicephalus

Species:
crassus

Size:	Adult Weight:
25cm (9.75 in)	Not available

Races including nominate:
one

Colourization Adult: Both adults brown head and neck tinged with olive/yellow; olive/brown throat and breast; silver/grey ear coverts; green underwing coverts; olive/brown tail tipped with dull green. Grey/brown upper mandible tipped with black, yellow lower. Cere and eye ring bare and dark brown/grey. Eye yellow.

Colourization Juvenile: Grey/brown crown and nape strongly marked with olive/yellow; yellow edging on inner secondary feathers. Yellow upper mandible tipped with dark grey, yellow lower.

Call: Calls made in flight or when perched are very sharp, which can be heard at some distance. Becomes more high-pitched with alarm. 

Meyer's Parrot

Meyer's Parrot
Also Known As: Brown Parrot, Sudan Brown Parrot

Species Profile

Genus:
Poicephalus

Species:
meyeri

Size:	Adult Weight:
21 cm (8.2 in)	100-135g (3.5-4.7 oz)

Races including nominate:
six: P.m. meyeri, P.m. saturatus, P.m. matschiei, P.m. transvaalensis, P.m. reichenowi, P.m. damarensis

Colourization Adult: 
P.m. meyeri: both adults grey/brown with yellow stripe across crown; blue/green lower breast to tail coverts and rump, variably more blue than green; yellow thighs, bend of wing, lesser wing coverts and underwing coverts; underwings where flight feathers are pale grey suffused with yellow; tail brown. Bill dark grey. Cere bare and brown/grey, eye ring brown/grey. Eye orange/red. P.m. transvaalensis: both adults as in meyeri, but with paler head and upperparts; little yellow or absent across crown; lower underparts more blue; bright blue rump. P.m. damarensis: both adults as in transvaalensis, but in general paler; yellow band across crown absent. P.m. reichenowi: both adults as in meyeri but darker brown in colour; yellow stripe across crown absent; undersides of flight feathers dark grey. P.m. matschiei: both adults as in reichenowi but with less yellow band across crown; underparts washed with blue; bright blue rump. P.m. saturatus: both adults head and upperparts darker brown; green rump, suffused with pale blue; undersides of flight feathers dark grey.

Colourization Juvenile: Generally more greenish-brown than adult. No yellow on head or thighs. Less yellow on bend of wing. Underwing green and brown. Underparts more green. Eye dark brown.

Call: Call a series of screeches often with brief pauses. Birds in flight duet with one another. Growling call can rise to shrieking cry when alarmed. Flock emit chorus of excitement calls. Captive birds mimickers. 

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Jardine's Parrot 

Also Known As: Red-fronted Parrot, Red-headed Parrot, Red-crowned Parrot, Congo Red-crowned Parrot

Species Profile

Genus:
Poicephalus

Species:
gulielmi

Size:	Adult Weight:
28cm (10.9 in)	200-227g (7-8 oz)

Races including nominate:
three: P.g. gulielmi, P.g. fantiensis, P.g. massaicus

Colourization Adult: 
P.g. gulielmi: both adults orange/red forecrown, thighs, bend of wing and carpal edge; dark green head and back with scalloping; upper mandible horn in colour tipped with black, lower mandible dark grey. Cere bare. Eye ring bare and pink/white. Eye orange/red. P.g. fantiensis: both adults orange forecrown; paler orange/red thighs, bend of wing, and carpal edge, sometimes orange like forecrown. Smaller in size. P.g. massaicus: both adults as in gulielmi but forehead only orange/red.

Colourization Juvenile: 
P.g. gulielmi: red on forecrown absent; black frontal band reaching to lores, forecheeks and under eye; pale grey/green bend of wing and carpal edge; green thighs; upper mandible pink/white tipped with grey. Eye brown.

Call: Calls high-pitched and harsh, made in flight or while perched. Are repeated in quick bursts. Also a longer, whistling note. While feeding quieter whistling sounds emitted. Flocks are loud and contantly babbling. 

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Grey Parrot  

Also Known As: African Grey Parrot

Species Profile

Genus:
Psittacus

Species:
erithacus

Size:	Adult Weight:
Erithacus, 33cm (12.8 in); timneh, 30cm (11.7 in).	Erithacus 400g (14 oz); timneh 320g (11.2 oz)

Races including nominate:
two: P.e. erithacus, P.e. timneh

Colourization Adult: 
P.e. erithacus: both adults grey in colour with grey/white scalloping to feathers; flight feathers darker grey; red tail and lower undertail coverts. Bill black. Eye grey.P.e. timneh: both adults dark grey in colour, paler on rump and abdomen; dark grey lower undertail coverts tinged with dark red; dark burgundy tail, the feathers edged with brown. Upper mandible dark red tipped with black, lower mandible black; smaller in size.

Colourization Juvenile: As in adults but with grey tinged lower undertail coverts; tail tipped with red. Eye dark grey to black.

Call: Variety of whistles, squawks, shrieks, and screams given at rest and in flight; mimics other birds, and mammals. 

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Cape Parrot

Species Profile

Genus:
Poicephalus

Species:
robustus

Size:	Adult Weight:
34cm (12.5 in)	260-330g (10.9-14 oz)

Races including nominate:
one

Colourization Adult: Both adults have varying plumage; head and neck dull olive/golden, scalloped with darker brown; orange/red band across the crown in female (absent in males); dark green back and wings; green rump and underparts (tinged with blue); orange/red thighs, bend of wing, and carpal edge; black/brown tail; dark brown eye; white/grey eye ring (bare); and horn-coloured bill.

Colourization Juvenile: Green to yellow/brown head and neck, body dark green/olive. Orange markings lacking in all juveniles. Head may appear silver after 9-12 months.

Call: Loud, very vocal, including five distinct calls described as tzu-weee, zu-wee, zz-keek and a nasal zeek. Piercing series of screeches emitted in flight. Softer sounds of contentment while at rest. Voice similar to Meyer's Parrot but more grating. Captive birds mimic human and other sounds. 

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