a limited number of of a to observe and we should be cautious : in declaring a without extensive comparison of birds from many sources. Many of us have had Senegals and Their Relatives the experience of matching breeding pairs colorwise, only to have them byIsabel Taylor produce young that are colored like Saluda, North Carolina another subspecies. Some of the answers may be found in studying the skin collections of the world's museums. Other answers lie in field This marvelous group of parrots can seem like a different species from studies in Africa which have been consists of nine species. Six are avail­ its parents. They are affectionate, practically non-existent. able in the u.s. today, the best known devoted, comical, not demanding, These birds like privacy for breeding being the . Three have strong personalities and are lov­ in captivity and as little interference species (Rueppell's, Niam-Niam and ing little birds. They all can talk, but from keepers as possible. Wild-caught Yellow-fronted) are quite rare and some species are more adept than pairs seem to settle down and breed intensive cooperative breeding is others. The talking ability and intelli- best in smaller cages (2' x 2'). I would urgently needed to keep them alive gence of the Red-bellied Parrot has r------­ for future generations. One couple is been a delight to many owners and an now sharing their experience and unusual characteristic for a small . A real treatfor your birds! knowledge of breeding Rueppell's This group has many advantages for (,~D~;+ Parrots. Their experience contains Macadamia the breeder. Low noise is a clear ~NUTI .,. Nuts important clues about how to manage advantage for city dwellers and ... CALIfORNIA GlOWN ? Callforn1a grown. these birds successfully and is per­ smaller species can live in small .. fro~!~w:~~~u. haps a clue about why these birds are spaces. They will breed year-round, No salt. no chemicals. still so rare after being in this country which can be an advantage or a disad­ ••'" no preservatives 50lb. m1n1mum for many years. Only by sharing gen­ vantage if you need a break from erously the information about com­ ~ at$I.50perlb. "baby birdie burnout". Wild-caught plus shipping mon and rare species will we be able TA.STE C.O.D. ACCEPrABLE birds are seldom aggressive, but I am THE D1FFERENCB Call (619) 728-4532 to preserve them in captivity and live finding handraised parents can be up to our calling to be responsible Gold Crown Macadamia Assoc. quite aggressive when breeding. They P.o. Box 235. Fallbrook. CA 92088-0235 stewards ofthe world's wildlife. are not very destructive to perches This is a quiet group of birds which and nestboxes and many make excel­ makes it possible to raise them in VITA-LITE. Full-spectrum natural light. lent foster parents. Distributors wanted. Supply breeders, apartments without disturbing your The young of sexually dimorphic stores and hobbyists. Manufactured in the neighbors. I have found, however, U.S. with an exclusive patented process. species will resemble the most Now available - incandescent Daylite Bulbs, that Capes can make a lot of cheerful brightly colored parent. For Capes and fits in ordinary fixtures. Free replacement noise, especially if you have more warranty. Call Kenny toll-free nationwide at Rueppell's the most brightly colored than one pair. Like Grays, Poicephalus 1-800-937-0900 ext. 7023. parent is the female. Red-bellied parrots can all growl; but tend not to very often. Poicephalus vary from babies can be very confusing to about 100 to 400 grams in body breeders as they all resemble the weight and are a very colorful group. brightly colored male. You will find They sport every color of the rainbow that almost every book you pick up except purple. The name Poicephalus will tell you incorrectly that young Emerald Forest most probably comes from two Greek resemble the adult female. words, kephalos meaning head and Subspecies can also be very confus­ Bird Gardens 45 wooded acres, streams, poios meaning what kind of. This ing in this group of birds. Forashaw is ponds, and tropical gardens refers to the puzzling head colors seen the most widely used reference on devoted to propagation in this group of birds. These head subspecies, but it is virtually impossi­ of exotic birds. Breeding colors and frontal bands are influ­ ble to tell a "more or less washed with Toucans. Toucanettes • Tanagers enced by sex, age, location or sub­ orange" from an "orange" tummy in a Mot Mots. Touracos • Cockatoos. species and individual differences. single Senegal. Most people do not try Amazons. Eclectus • African Greys Pionus. Cranes. Waterfowl. Flamingos Three species are sexually dimorphic: to tell the difference in a Meyer's with All Birds Closed Banded Capes, Rueppell's and Red-bellieds. a "bluish-green rump" from one with Distributor for Foster Parrot Brooders One of the lesser known facts about a "rump green washed with blue". I Call or write for price list. this group is what wonderful pets cannot tell the difference in "broad Jerry Jennings handraised babies make. The wild­ margins" on a Jardine's feathers from (619) 728-2226 caught birds can be extremely shy and the "broader margins" of another sub­ are best suited for breeding as a gen­ species. I have found Jardine's the Route 6, Box 14, Fallbrook, CA 92028 Visitors by appointment only eral nile. However, a handraised baby most confusing of all. Most of us have

afa WATCHBIRD 27 The intensity oforange chest coloration can vary within the Although less colorful than other 1n.elnbers qlthe Poicephalusgroup, Brown­ saIne clutch ofbaby SenegaIs. headedParrots aregentle and quiet birds.

jardine's havestrikingplu1nage ofblack andgreen with orange Baby]ardine's are captivating clowns, that ojien pre.ler not to be weaned. markings on the head, shoulders and thighs. advise moving them to larger flight cages after a period of successful breeding for the long-range health of the birds. Many pairs like the dark and pairs in cages closest to the floor often breed first. They are easy to feed and do very well on pellets as they come from a dry environment in Africa. Nestboxes measuring 8" x 8" x 8" deep work well for the smaller species and 12" x 12" x 24" for the larger spe­ cies. They accept a lot of variation in nestboxes but usually do not like too large diameter boxes. If one type does not work, by all means, try another size or shape. Ofcourse, knowing you have a genuine pair is critical, espe­ cially in species like SenegaIs where Cape Parrots are the largest species ofthe PoicephaIus group. 28 June I July 1993 f This two lnonth oldMeyer's baby haspaler plumage than adults, but lnoreyellow on the Four week oldMeyer's babies, note the large alnount ofyellowfeathering on the shoulder. shoulderand none on the head.

Both lnale andfe1nale Red-belliedyoungsters can have a red colora­ The adult lnale Red-belliedParrot displays the red coloration ofthe tion on the abd01nen, although thefelnales often havepalerplumage. abdomen. the ratio of male to female is often 9: 1 in in1ported birds. There is so much we do not know about breeding these birds and so much we have to learn and observe. There may well be a bird density we should not exceed, so beware of put­ ting too many birds of one species in one breeding area. Handfeeding these birds is usually not a difficult task. Many breeders remove them from the nest between two to three weeks of age. Babies can be growly and will often respond to your state of mind. SenegaIs and Red­ bellieds especially need a lot of extra handling as babies to make them good pets. They do best if kept in clear containers and in the middle of Thefemale Red-bellied Parrot Jacks the coloration ofthe abdomen. human activity. Regurgitating during afa WATCHBIRD 29 handfeeding is common occurence in seem to be compatible with the mate plumage is lighter than an adult and this group ofbirds. It is seen in all spe­ you give them, but you occasionally upperwing coverts are lightly scal­ cies and is most commonly encoun­ run across a Senegal who has definite loped in blue-green. They are very tered when using commercial formu­ ideas about who he/she likes and can active birds and adults often show no las. Be sure you weigh your birds be difficult to pair. Some pairs can be fear oflarger birds or . daily so you will know if you have a excellent foster parents, usually those It is not unusual to have a pair of disease/medical problem or this com­ who do not mind interference. I have Meyer's three to four years before they mon feeding problem. I do not know had them raise all other species ofPoi­ breed. It seems to take the nervous a solution to this problem but it often cephalus babies. In addition, one pair wild-caught birds a long time to settle helps to give their amount of food in hatched and raised a clutch of three in and breed. Do not give up on them. smaller portions with a period of rest Grays for ten days. SenegaIs have They have clutches of three to five between portions. Because Poicepha­ been very healthy birds for me. I do eggs and will breed one or more times Ius babies need extra handling, they highly recommend medicating all a year. Like other Poicephalus, how often do best in small nurseries. wild-caught birds for tapeworms. many times they breed per year is dif­ A common problem I am asked Also, beware of feeding high protein ferent for each pair. There are now about is parents maiming or killing pellets (20 percent) to new imports. several reports of young breeding at babies in the nest. Some pairs will tol­ Their systems are not able to handle four years old. Youngsters are active erate you checking the nestbox every such rich foods just out of quarantine and curious and will jump onto any­ day, but other pairs cannot tolerate and they should be slowly acclimated one who opens the cage door. They this at all. If you have a pair that have to better foods. say a few words, but as a general rule, maimed or killed babies, my advice is they do not talk much. to not look in the nestbox after you Brown-headedParrots see their first egg until time to take the Poicephalus cryptoxanthus Red-belliedParrots babies out for handfeeding. This These gentle and quiet birds are the Poicephalus rufiventris could be a period of 50 to 60 days dur­ least colorful of the Poicephalus These beautiful and charming little ing which you must not look - even group, but the sweet dispositions of birds have not beenwell known in avi­ if the parents are outside the nestbox. handraised babies make up for that culture until recently. They are one of lack. They are very similar to Sene­ the sexually dimorphic species. The Senegals gals, but lack the yellow/orange adult males have a carrot orange Poicephalus senegalus tummy and have a pale lower mandi­ tummy and are orange under the These little birds have been ble and yellow-green eyes. I have wings; the adult females have a imported into the U.S. in the tens of found them to be good breeders, lay­ brown-green tummy and are brown thousands and are the best known ing four eggs several times a year. under the wings. Juvenile plumage member of the Poicephalus. They are They do not incubate until the third resembles the male. Sometimes young very resilient little birds, but wild­ egg is laid, which has led some breed­ females have paler plumage than caught birds can be extremely wild ers to think they are not going to incu­ young males, but often they are identi­ and are often impossible to tame. On bate at all. Many times their eggs have cal. Some babies will have an orange the contrary, handraised babies are a the airsack on the side but the babies frontal band, but this is not an indica­ delight and one of the best parrot pets hatched with no difficulties. Babies I tion of sex. To be sure of the sex of in my opinion. Juvenile plumage is have raised have had a nutrition prob­ youngsters, you may need to have palerthan the adult and not "duller" lem that we do not understand at this them blood sexed or wait for the first as you will read in reference books. A time. They did not do well on com­ molt at about six to eight months of well fed baby should have an irrides­ mercial formulas, but started to gain age. ence to the feathers and no stress weight again and thrived when I Pairs can be excellent breeders lines. Handraised birds keep their added strained corn to the commercial when they start. Newly imported birds tameness, are forgiving even if you diet. They may need lower protein or have been known to be in fragile forget them and become quite perhaps corn has an ingredient they health and extra precautions should attached to you. I have found myself need. be taken with these birds. They will getting very attached to several hand­ breed year-round inside and often raised Senegals whose devotion is Meyer's Parrots have three to four clutches a year. hard to resist. Poicephalus meyeri Three or four eggs are a normal Senegals are good breeders, but can These are beautitul birds and it is clutch. Because these birds come from be very sensitive to interference dur­ unusual to find a Meyer's who is not in the areas of and Somalia, ing the nesting cycle. If they do not excellent feather, even when sick. they are used to dry foods and breed want to come off the nest for you to They inhabit a range in south-central very successtuHy on peHets. They do check, do not make them. They will Africa, larger than that of any other not drink much water. Domestic average four eggs per clutch and have Poicephalus species. Young birds young are breeding at four to five good fertility. They have laid for me have no yellow on the head or thighs, years, but this is based on only a few almost every month of the year in an but have very large shoulder patches, birds so far. inside breeding facility. Most birds larger than those of an adult. Juvenile Red-bellied babies need extra atten- 30 June / July 1993 IRICKS ™ We carry afull line of quality ~JIM . >.~ bi"prices."""The most" """,,01,Important tion during the handraising process to most difficult to breed for me and < fr features of any bird scale are be good pets. You cannot just feed a other breeders as well. Wild-caught :::> accuracy and consistency. BIRDen We have tested many digital baby and put him back in the con­ birds can be extremely shy, especially F=====::..J scales and found that scales tainer. During weaning they may the males, and they are prone to that have a load cell weighing mechanism give results that do not exhibit strange behavior, but they do become ill when stressed. A more change when the weight is moved from one side settle down and grow out ofthis. They accurate statement might be that stress of the platform to the other. The difference would have strong personalities and owners brings out whatever illnesses they be obvious if you were to compare our "load cell" scales side by side with other digital scales. become very attached to these little may be hiding. They are sexually characters. They are very intelligent, dimorphic with the female being the MADE WITH PRIDE IN THE U.S.A. talk well and keep learning for years. more brightly colored sex with orange ELECTRONIC DIGITAL BIRD SCALE on her forehead. Subspecies seem WITH T-PERCH $84.00 shipping incl. * more easily identified, but most of the This scale has astate of the Rueppell's Parrots art Load cell weighing POicephalus rueppellii birds in the U.S. belong to the suaheli­ mechanism. It was design­ These birds are rare in the U.S. and cus subspecies. Youngsters all resem­ ed for us specifically as a ble females and the young of both Bird Scale and it is breeding reports are equally rare. A manufactured and assem­ couple of breeding reports do tell of sexes lose the forehead orange at six bled in the U.S.A. It weighs three to four month old domestic juve­ months of age. At about nine months, in 1gm. increments all the way up to 2200 grams. Also niles killing each other or killing their a molt returns the orange to the fore­ weighs in 1/10 ounce incre­ parents. Weaned youngsters should heads offemales. ments up to 5 lb. Same be housed separately, it appears, for Wild-caught birds need a lot of pri­ scale without perch: $79. Perch is not removable but their own safety and for that of their vacy for breeding. They form loose scale converts easily to a siblings and parents. We know so velY pair bonds and I have switched mates baby bird scale by little about these birds and hope without any trouble. Mine have done attaching a stainless steel 1..:====::"-1 converter dish with perch breeders will join the African Parrot best when I put several pairs together grippers (sm. $10. med. $12, Ig. $15). Uses 9V Society and share this information. It in a room and hung their cages up battery or optional AC adapter ($11) One inch di­ does appear from several reports that high. Many pairs foul their nestboxes ameter perch is standard. Larger diameter perches available. (1114, Pia, 1112 in.-same price). Rueppell's are not good pets and, during breeding, which is a nuisance. Same Scale with 2 gm. increments is more ap­ because of their rarity, every effort They will lay three to four eggs per propriate for medium and large birds (same price). clutch and twice a year is probably Same Scale with 5000 gm. capacity has 5 gm. should be made to breed each indi­ increments ($99 with perch). vidual. average. One egg under the parents 'Dusty' the African Grey pictured. took four days to hatch from pipping. Mention AJ.A. Watch bird and Jardine's Parrots Fuzzy white babies are adorable and receive a 5% discount. POicephalus gulielmi very funny with their large beaks. These birds have unusual plumage NEW,;,o of 1 gm. increment Electronic Digital They often have a smile on their faces. Scale $159 shipping included' 300 gm. with markings ofblack and green. The Pairs breed well for a while, then often capacity. Includes AC adapter. orange markings on head, shoulder stop. Changing mates and moving OHAUS TRIPLE BEAM BALANCE WITH to and thighs vary widely from bird them may help. Give them privacy for REMOVABLE T· PERCH $119.00 shipping incl.' bird. In Jardine's, as well as other Poi­ the nestbox area, but put them in Includes stainless steel baby bowl. Weighs in 1110 cephalus species, we see quite a dif­ close proximity to other pairs. They of 1 gm. increments. This scale has acapacity of 610 gm. or you can order the optional weight set ference in individual size. This is not do a lot of loud chirping when breed­ ($19) which increases the capacity to 2110 gm. necessarily an indication of a subspe­ ing is going on and can raise quite a Same Scale with Tare Beam $134. 4th beam will cies, but is most likely a common evo­ racket. Domestic birds show little fear "Tare out" weight of perch or bowl. lutionary change. Wild-caught Jar­ and handraised males can be very OHAUS "Lume a gram" series Electronic Digital dine's, unlike the other Poicephalus, domineering. Bird Scales with Removable T· Perch. 1000 or 2000 gm. models $119. Includes batteries and baby can become very friendly with their Few breeders have enough individ­ dish. Optional AC adapter ($17). keepers. Babies are velY relaxed and uals of these species to keep a species captivating clowns that prefer for you from extinction alone. It, therefore, OHAUS Hanging Pan Balance $149.00' For EGGS Weighs in 1/100 of 1 gm. increments to 311 gm. not to wean them.. behooves us to work together and Jardine's have been good breeders pool our knowledge and experience ELECTRONIC DIGITAL THERMOMETER WITH STAINLESS STEEL PROBE $19.95 battery incl. ' in captivity from most reports. Three with these birds. Learning from more For checking the temp. of baby bird formula. Easy eggs is an average clutch and they will common species can prOVide impor­ to read, display reads in 1110 of 1 degree incre­ breed two to three times a year. tant expertise before working with ments up to 30lJO F. Has many other uses. Domestic young are breeding at two endangered species. Each individual ~ ~ill VISA/MasterCard Accepted. years ofage from several reports. bird becomes more important as our CALL OR WRITE FOR FREE BROCHURE. Not avail­ access to wild-caught stock dwindles. able in pet stores. To order send check or M.0. Cape Parrots We know very little about the status of to: RICK'S BIRD SUPPLIES, 4373 Raymir Place, Poicephalus robustus these species in the wild, but we Dept. A, Wauwatosa, WI 53222. Phone (414) 461- 6767 COD orders, $4 add'l. - 'Shipping in­ Capes are the largest species of the would probably be correct in assum­ cluded in USA. We have been standing behind our Poicephalus group. They are uncom­ ing that they are vulnerable, unpre­ scales with a 1000/0 SATISFACTION GUARANTEE mon in captivity and have been the dictable and threatened.• and a 1 YR. WARRANTY - Since 1988

afa WATCHBIRD 31