JR and Sue Ellen - Timneh African Greys
Timneh Greys are from the forested plains of equatorial Africa and measure about 12" in length. They are dark grey in appearance with maroon colored tail feathers, white skin around their eyes, and a horn colored upper mandible. Lifespan is around 50-70 years.
Timnehs tend to be more outgoing then their cousins the Congo Greys and, in general, less reactive to new people. Greys are considered by many to be the most vocally talented of the parrot family learning upwards of 2000 words sometimes after hearing it only a few times.
Sony and Cher - Congo African Grey
Congo Greys are from Central and Western areas of Africa. They are slightly larger then their cousins at about 14 inches and also live from 50 to 70 years. They are light grey with cherry red tails and a black mandible.
Congo are generally considered the most intelligent of all parrots being the bird of choice for over 4,000 years. They appear in Egyptian hieroglyphics, ancient Greeks valued them, wealthy Roman Families kept them in ornate cages. Even sailors have been known to take them with them on voyages to keep them company.
Red Bellied Parrots are one of the few parrots that do not require a DNA test to determine their sex. They have grey feathers with an orangish-red hue and green butt. The males have an orange to red chest where the females have the grey feathers continue around their back to their chest. These little gems are from central Africa, grow to about 9" in length and live up to around 25-35 years.
Red Bellies are also very good talkers and mimickers with a bit of a helium sound to their voices. They love to play and can be easy to teach tricks to. These are very devoted birds so make sure they get handled by as many people as you can to keep them properly socialized.
Deleno
and Eleanor - Senegal Parrots
Jones and Wall Street - Senegal Parrots
Senegals parrots are a close relative of the Red
Bellied Parrot from Western Central Africa with bright yellow, orange
and green feathering. These guys are about 9" in length and also
live 25-35 years.
Senegals are not as good of a talker as their Red Bellied friends but
tend to be a quieter bird and are a bit more outgoing; they love to play,
swing and gnaw. A good possibility for those living in apartments wanting
a big bird personality.
Detroit
and Georgia - Lineolated Parakeets
Tarzan and Jane - Lineolated Parakeets
Much more then a parakeet! Linnies are from Central
South America, grow to about 7" in length and live up to 15 years
or more. Colors come from the traditional green to cobalt, yellow, creams,
etc...
These little birds love to play! Cages need to be more horizontal then
vertical as ours like to spend more time
running and hopping around then they do flying. Where these high energy
birds love to play they are the quietest little things with the softest
voice. They can learn to mimic and talk learning just a few words. An
absolute joy to watch and handle!
Vinnie
and Valerie
Ricky and Lucy
Fred and Ethel
Thomas and Tony
Ounce for ounce these parrots have enough gumption
and personality to match any other parrot. The quaker parrot is from the
Brazil and Argentina (don't cry for me Argentina...) areas. On average
these guys are 11" long and have a 19" wingspan and live for
15 to 20 years.
As pets they love to play and can develop a large vocabulary when worked
with. Colors range from traditional green to ice blues, yellows, lavender
and white (the last three being extremely rare mutations).
Unfortunately
these wonderful birds are not legal in all states so check with your local
wildlife organization in your state before you buy one (sorry Wyoming).
Maybe it could be because they build colony nests that have been reported
to be as big as a small automobile?
