Species Description

In the wild, Red Bellied Parrots live in small groups or pairs. They eat fruits, seeds, and grain, living in woodlands or savannas. Although quieter than many parrots, Red Bellied Parrots are good talkers and can produce a variety of noises and sounds, both learned and instinctive. Although shy at times, Red Bellied Parrots are easily excited by new people and may talk excessively to attract attention! They are affectionate and loving with people they are familiar with and love attention. Once Red Bellied Parrots are acclimated, they become quite hardy. Before they are comfortable with their new handlers, they may be quite shy and some have even died flying into the mesh walls of their cages. After they settle in, Red Bellied Parrots become quite hardy and confiding. New birds should be allowed temperatures warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit, but after they are settled, they may be kept at temperatures as low as 50 degrees.

Red Bellied Parrots usually reach maturity at 12 months of age, when they will be about eight and a half inches in length. Red Bellied Parrots have grayish brown wings, heads, and backs. The lower back has a blue tinge, although it is predominantly yellow-green. The breasts, under-wing coverts, and cheeks are washed with orange. The under-wing coverts and thighs are aqua green. Red Bellied Parrots have black periopthalmic rings and red irises. Their bills are black and their feet are gray. Sexing may be achieved visually; males have orange bellies and females have green bellies. Immatures both have orange coloration over their bellies.

The Red-bellied Parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days and the chicks leave the nest about 63 days after hatching.

Habitat

Red-Bellied Parrots originate in the savannahs of Eastern Africa. They live in the brush and feed off of the acacia fruit. This particular fruit hangs upside-down in a bell fashion, so that the only way for the red belly to get to the fruit inside is to hang upside down and crane his head around to get the fruit.

Distribution

These birds are naturally occurring in eastern Africa, from central Ethiopia to northern Tanzania.