Cape Parrot

Cape parrots are a species of large Poicephalus parrots that are gaining popularity as pets due to their endearing characteristics. Originally thought to be a subspecies of P. fuscicollis, alongside the brown-necked parrot and grey-headed parrot, it has since been given its own distinct species.

Cape Parrot

Scientific Classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Psittaciformes
Superfamily	Psittacoidea
Family	Psittacidae
Subfamily	Psittacinae
Genus	Poicephalus
Scientific Name	Poicephalus robustus

Quick Information
Also known as	Levaillant’s parrot, Perroquet robust (French)
Size	13.4 in (34 cm)
Weight	9.2-11.6 oz (260-330 gm)
Color	Variable; golden/pale olive head and neck with dark-brown scallops, dark brown eyes with white/grey eye-ring, dark green wings and back, blue-tinged green undersides and rump, red/orange thighs, wing-bends and carpal edges, brown/black tail, horn-colored beak; females have an exclusive red/orange crown which is not seen in males Juveniles have greenish yellow/brown head and neck, olive/dark green body, orange markings are absent
Distribution	Found only in South Africa
Habitat	Coastal forests and lowlands during their feeding spells, otherwise at altitudes of 4,600 ft (1,400 m) in Afromontane mistbelt mixed Podocarpus forest patches
Sounds and Talking Ability	Loud and vociferous; there are four distinguishable calls, zu-weee, zz-keek, tzu-weee, and a more nasal zeeeek, soft sounds made when relaxed, piercing screech emitted during flight. Captive cape parrots can learn to mimic sounds, including those of humans
Clutch	2-4 glossy, round eggs
Incubation Period	28-30 days
Breeding Season	Year-round with a peak between July and February
Fledging	10-11 weeks
Breeding Age	3-5 years
Lifespan	15-20 years; may live for up to 30 years if cared for correctly
Diet	Fruits of Podocarpus and other trees throughout its habitat; also prefers to eat fruits like apples, cherries, acorns, pine seeds, plums, and eucalyptus flowers.
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

As pets

The shy disposition and the lack of necessity of constant attention of the cape parrot have made it into a much sought-after pet, but there are some things that must be borne in mind while owning one. These points have been mentioned below.

Cape Parrot Pictures

Cape Parrot Images

Housing

If you can afford a walk-in aviary then get one with a length of at least 7 ft (213 cm), the bird can also be comfortable in a cage with dimensions of 4’x4’x4’. Provide it with destructible toys like vegetable tanned leather, wooden blocks, sterilized pine cones, as well as non-destructible ones.

Also install some parrot perches made of natural wood for the bird, as it will help in keeping the nails and beak in shape.

Temperature

Temperatures between 50°F-90°F (10°C-32.2°C) should be comfortable enough for your cape parrot.

Temperament, Personality & Behavior

They are an affectionate bird but not overly demanding of the owner’s time as long as they have their toys to keep themselves busy with. They are very energetic. To overcome its shyness, it must be exposed from as tender an age so that they can adjust to new situations in a better manner.

Feeding

Your cape parrot can be fed apples, oranges, bananas, cooked pulses and beans, boiled corn, wholegrain bread, carrot, cheese (low fat), celery, peas in the pod.

As with all parrots, do not feed your pet avocado and chocolate as they can be potentially toxic for the bird.

Cape Parrot Baby

Cape Parrot Flying

Care

The bird must be bathed regularly, preferably with a mist-spray. You can allow it to dry itself under the sun, or use a blow-dryer for the purpose.

Trim the nails to avoid injury to yourself, and clip the wing feathers just enough so that when the bird takes flight, it glides down to the ground, thus avoiding injury, especially with heavy-bodied birds, who crash down to the floor if the wings are clipped too much.

Clean the enclosure of the bird on a regular basis.

Health problems

Most health problems arise out of the lack of an appropriate diet and care. These are:

Aspergillosis or respiratory disease
Fungal, bacterial and viral infections
Calcium deficiency disorder
Feather picking
Psittacosis
Psittacine beak and feather disease

Make a trip to the vet on a routine basis to keep the chances of such complications arising to a minimal.

Price

The price of a cape parrot is between $3,000-$3,500.

Interesting fact

The population of cape parrots in South Africa is believed to be in decline owing to the destruction of the natural habitat of the bird, and its rising popularity in the pet trade. The Cape Parrot Project has been undertaken to stem the diminishing trend of cape parrot numbers.