Red-bellied Parrot

• ExerciseHigh

  Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• GroomingEasy upkeep

  Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment25–30 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Respiratory issues · Obesity · Feather plucking

The Red-bellied Parrot (Poicephalus rufiventris) comes from the dry thorn savannah of Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania, and belongs to the same genus as the Senegal and Meyer's. It is one of the few parrots where you can sex a bird by looking: adult males have a bright orange belly, females a green one. At 100 to 140 grams it is a small parrot with a very large personality. Owners consistently report a talking ability out of proportion to the size, with clear speech and a gift for mimicking whistles, phones and other household sounds. Red-bellies are playful, clownish and inventive, hanging upside down and inventing games, and they are far less prone to the one-person bonding and nipping of the Senegal. They are not loud, which makes them a genuinely realistic apartment parrot, but they are busy and need occupation. They can be shy at first and need patient handling to build trust. Give a roomy cage with plenty of climbing, several hours out daily, and constant foraging and shredding work. Feed a pellet base with fresh vegetables and leafy greens; Poicephalus parrots come from arid country, evolved on a low-fat diet, and are notably prone to obesity and fatty liver disease on sunflower-heavy seed mixes, so nuts and seed should be training rewards only. Keep the air free of non-stick fumes and aerosols, watch for feather plucking as a boredom signal, and book an annual avian vet check.

• How much activity does a Red-bellied Parrot need?

  High. Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• How much feather care does a Red-bellied Parrot need?

  Easy upkeep. Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• What cage does a Red-bellied Parrot need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Red-bellied Parrot a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Red-bellied Parrot live?

  25–30 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Red-bellied Parrot?

  Keep an eye out for Respiratory issues, Obesity, Feather plucking. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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