Chapter 5 - PARROTS

AFRICAN GREY PARROT (Psittacus e. erithacus) This species, one of the best known Parrots, is said to be the best talker among Psittacine Birds. In the United States, they were very popular in the "Eighties" and in the first quarter of this century. Because of the grossly exaggerated "Parrot Fever" scare which was given much adverse publicity, it is more difficult to get these birds into the United States and the prices for them are higher in consequence.

The different varieties of African Greys inhabit the Con­go Region, Gold Coast, and throughout Western and Central Africa. One place where Grey Parrots were found particu­larly abundant was on Prince's Island off the Gold Coast. On this island there is a 1200 foot mountain called Pico de Papagaio (Peak of the Parrot) which, although not very high as mountains go, is covered with a dense forest of trees of great size on its slopes. It is difficult to penetrate this forest due to the masses of lianas and other jungle growth. At sun­set, great numbers of African Greys fly in from the lowlands where they feed and roost for the night in the security of the mountain's jungle. There are other mountains on Prince's Island, but this one is the preferred location for night roost­ing and for raising the young in the breeding season.

Most fanciers don't know it, but there are a few different varieties of African Greys with some differences in size and in coloring.  Size may vary from 12 to 15 3/4 inches depending upon subspecies, age and sex. Some races have red feathers in the wings, others have many red feathers mixed through­out the grey body feathers. Still others have pink feathers mixed in the grey plumage. There are even partial al­binos, albinos with red tails and, very rarely, completely white birds, and grey ones with white tails instead of the normal scarlet.

DESCRIPTION: Cock: Body pearl-grey, having the feath­ers of the head, neck and abdomen margined with whitish-grey. Tail scarlet, square and short. Bill is black. Skin patch around the eyes, lores and above bill greyish-white. Feet greyish with black claws.  Eyes with a clear yellow iris.

Hen: Similar to the cock but smaller, with shorter neck and smaller, rounder head. To tell the sexes apart, look at the bare skin at the back of the eye, which you will find to be less extensive, more rounded, and less elliptical in shape in the hen than in the cock. She is of a darker shade of grey, and the light edgings of the feathers are less distinct than those of the cock. A look at the head also helps to differen­tiate between the sexes. The cock's head is more arched, longer, with a smaller bill having more of a hook than the hen's. She has a broader, flatter head, with a stouter bill, thicker at the base than the cock's. By carefully comparing the above differences, you will be able to determine the sex of your birds, as they are otherwise very similar.

Immature birds have the tail dark red at the tips, and the under tail-coverts dark red tinged with grey. Young birds may be easily ascertained by the eye coloring, which is first black or very dark-greyish in a very young bird, changing in five to six months to light grey, and at one year of age to a clear yellow. At full maturity, 3.5to 4 years, the irises are clear yellowish-white. In a young bird, the cheeks and forehead are not as light colored as in the adults.

FEEDING: Complete feeding instructions in captivity are given in a previous chapter applying to all Parrots. It is interesting to the fancier, however, to know what African Greys feed on in the wild.   These Parrots, like Crows and many other birds, go out foraging during the day to preferred feeding grounds, and at dusk wing their way back to favorite roosting trees for the night. In the wild, their food preference is given to Palm Nuts which they can easily crack, then var­ious grains, especially maize. Wild fruits form part of their diet also, such as Avocats, Goyave, Mangos and Wild Figs.

BREEDING: African Greys require a breeding pen 25 to 30 feet long, by 6 to 8 feet wide and high. Length is the most important dimension. More explicit details in properly building an enclosure are given in a previous chapter. Both parents take turns in incubating and feeding the young. While one parent is setting on the eggs, the other will come up and feed it. In the wild, Grey Parrots nest in colonies, one tree having two or more families in its hollow limbs or trunk which are used year after year. In captivity, no more than one pair should be bred in an enclosure. The young will be cared for by the parents for quite some weeks, but if they show signs of wanting to nest again, remove the young.

It may be necessary to feed your young Parrot by hand, in which case an inexpensive mixture of the following may be made up: Chicken or Turkey Growing Mash—5 lbs., Dried Buttermilk or Whey—1 lb., Oatmeal or Pablum—2 lbs. Two or three drops of Cod Liver Oil should be given in the food per day. If available, you may add to the above a pound of any of the following: Alfalfa Leaf Meal — Dried Egg — Whole Milk Powder — Pea or Bean Meal — Grated Hard-boiled Egg and Raw Carrot.

When the young are older, whether hand-fed or not, they may be weaned from soft food by giving them seeds which were soaked overnight in water (Parrot Mixture) and eventu­ally they will eat the dry seeds.

Parrots have the unusual ability of being able to retain their breeding condition even though kept for years on a stand or in a cage. One peculiarity about Parrots so kept, is that it requires some time for the bird to fully recover the use of its wings when placed in a 25-30 foot breeding pen.

As a family pet, African Grey Parrots may be recom­mended for their docility, gentleness and wonderful talking powers. You and your friends will be well entertained with unexpected remarks from its gift of gab. They are easy to care for like the Amazon Parrots, also live over 50 years (some reaching 80 to 100), and will be a companion to you if you are alone. A bird may even outlive you, and they have often been willed to another generation as a family heirloom.

The African Greys, together with the Panama and Mexi­can Double Yellow Head are the best talkers among Parrots.

TIMNEH GREY PARROT (Psittacus e. timneh) This is a distinct subspecies of the common African Grey Parrot, and is smaller and of a darker grey, size 12 inches. The body above is dark grey, abdomen and rump light grey. Tail dark red. Bill pale yellow at the base, black towards the tip. Its range is farther north in West Africa than the common species, and includes Liberia and lower Sierra Leone.

Amazon Parrots are exclusively Tropical American birds, and all have the ability to repeat words, whistles or sounds. They are easy to care for, hardy and affectionate. Their life-span is well over 50 years. Among the many species, the best talkers are:

MEXICAN DOUBLE YELLOW-HEAD (or LEVEL-LI-ANT'S AMAZON) (Amazona ochrocephala oratrix) Habitat: Mexico to British Honduras. 15 inches. This gentle and af­fectionate bird is said to be the best talker among the Ama­zons. The body is a lovely shade of green, and when fully mature (at 3 years old), the entire head and upper neck are yellow. There are a few red spots on shoulders and wings. Young birds have only a small amount of yellow in the front part of the head, which increases in area up to 3 years of age. It spreads very gradually and slowly.

YELLOW-FRONTED or SINGLE YELLOW-HEADED AMAZON (Amazona o. ochrocephala) Habitat: Northern South America. This species, all green with a yellow fore­head and dark bill, makes a nice talker.

PANAMA AMAZON (Amazona o. panamensis) Habitat: Panama to Colombia. 15 inches. Similar to the preceding, with a paler green body and yellow forehead. The bill in this species is white. As this bird grows older, it develops a small yellow patch at the back of the head. Said to be the second-best talker among Amazons.

BLUE-FRONTED AMAZON (Amazona a. aestiva) Habi­tat: Brazil. This species has the same nice shade of green as the others, but it has a blue forehead, yellow throat and cheeks. The patch on the wings is scarlet, and the bill is black.

CUBAN AMAZON (Amazona L. leucccephala) Habitat: Cuba and Isle of Pines. 10-11 inches. This species is one of the most beautiful of the Amazons. The body is green, with white forehead, red throat and cheeks. The wings and tail have feathers of blue, red and green. This Parrot, though prettier than the others, is not as good a talker.

I wish to mention an extremely desirable Amazon with friendly ways and which makes a nice talker. It is a smaller bird, about 10y2 inches. It is the SPECTACLED or WHITE-BROWED AMAZON (Amazona albifrons). Habitat: Western Mexico, Yucatan, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This small Parrot is striking, in that it has a scarlet circle around the eyes, scarlet patch on the wings, and a blue crown and breast. I've seen these birds, and think they make a fine colorful pet for the small home or apartment.

i An odd thing about Parrots is that, like many cats, the male prefers a woman for a mistress, while the female Par­rot likes a man. Parrots are usually taken from the nest, and hand fed by the natives to tame them.

The Bronx Park Zoo of New York has a beautiful rare mutation -of an Amazon Parrot, which is a lovely iridescent blue all over. Over 100 species of Amazon Parrots are known.

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