Red Bellied Parrot

by Angela Vuckovic

Published: June 19th, 2018

About Red Bellied Parrot

Size

9 inches

Lifespan

up to 20 years

Bird Species

Poicephalus parrots

Colors

Grey, Green & Orange details

Sounds

Vocal, Talkative, Chatterer, Mimics

Interaction

Social, Fun, Energetic, Affectionate

Comparable Breeds

African Grey Parrot, Senegal Parrot

Red Bellied Parrot General Info

Like all the members of the African parrot family, the Red bellied parrot is an intelligent bird and makes a wonderful family pet. These parrots have a lot of awesome traits – they are affectionate, fun and playful, and they are great talkers. With its friendly personality, talking skills and the beautiful looks to boot, this bird is sure to charm you. So if you’re looking for a vibrant pet that is full of life and goofy tricks, then these African parrots could be a perfect choice.

These are some of the best talkers in the African parrot family. And with all their other great traits, they make lovely pets.

Native Region/Natural Habitat

Red bellied parrots are native to the regions in Eastern Africa. This includes parts of modern Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, stretching towards the Horn of Africa. They nest in tree hollows and flock in semi-arid, dry savannas and local brush land. They usually flock close to fresh water sources. Luckily, these parrots have great populations both in the wild and in captivity, all thanks to stricter laws and controlled breeding programs. They are common as pets all over the world.

Overall Description

These parrots are relatively small when compared to their close cousins, with adults reaching an average length of 9 inches (23 centimeters). They are also easy to distinguish – males and females of the Red bellied parrot breed are visibly different. These differences are mainly related to color on the chest. Like all other smaller parrots, they too are very energetic and sometimes mischievous and require a lot of space. Keeping your pet parrot limited to his cage is not advised – it can quickly lead to problems.

Speech and Sounds

Most parrots that are natural to Africa are great talkers and mimics. These birds are no exception. Red bellied parrot can pick up simple words from an early age and build up a small vocabulary. These are often commonly repeated words and sounds. With a clear, slightly “artificial” voice, they will mimic and chat as much as they like. But besides all this, they are not too noisy and can be a good choice for apartment settings.

Colors

With bold and vibrant color accents that contrast the grey, the Red Bellied parrots are unique and pretty looking birds. The females are mostly grey, with the lower belly bright green. The males are different – while the wings and upper body are lighter grey, the belly is bright orange. They have unique, hawk-like beaks, and the distinct red irises. This intriguing combination certainly gives them a one of a kind look that simply commands attention!

African parrots are always unique, and Red bellied parrot is no exception- these are some beautiful birds!

Care and Feeding

Seeds, fruits, and Acacia plants are their favorite foods in the wild. A commercial seed mix for parrots will be a good start for a healthy diet. You should always offer them some fresh fruits and green vegetables. Added vitamins and nutrients are essential, and a cuttlebone is an excellent choice for that.

A preventive for all diseases is good hygiene. Baths, clean cages, and food and water dishes – make this your priority.

Health and Common Conditions

These are generally robust and hardy birds. They spend their average lifespan of 20 years without many troubles along the way. Regular checkups, good amount of attention and interaction, and a lot of free space will help immensely. To be on guard, remember some of the usual symptoms of sickness – heavy, labored breathing, apathy, and complete loss of appetite. Avoid extreme cold or heat, which can quickly deteriorate your parrot’s health. Always strive for the optimal conditions.

Red Bellied parrots are strong and healthy. Keep them that way by taking care of all the essential conditions and interacting with your pet.

Personality & Behavior

These little African goofs are quite a lot of fun. With a generally friendly, sociable and energetic personality, there isn’t a lot you can complain about. Just make sure they get the freedom to explore, play with their toys and enjoy that cuddle every now and then. You will be quickly charmed by their natural tendency to learn new tricks, talk and generally be a silly, acrobatic little pet. There’s no doubt that they will become the favorite of the family.

Photo credit: Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock; Ruth Rodgers/Wikimedia Commons; Maggy Meyer/Shutterstock

Angela Vuckovic

A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.

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Scientists Uncover Secrets of Extinct "Wooly Dog" Breed

Throughout history, dogs have played several key roles in the lives of people globally. They have hunted, worked, and provided for us, forever weaving them into the fabric of human existence. We often use this knowledge to better understand our modern dogs by reflecting on their original purpose as a breed. Unfortunately, not every breed continues to thrive among us today.The Coast Salish wooly dog was a unique breed, kept by the First Nations people throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver Island, for its fleece-like coat. A new study reveals insights into the history of the now-extinct breed.Unlike most animals at that time in history, the dog was kept in pens and longhouses. This was done to prevent the dogs from mixing with village and hunting dogs, preserving the breed and the fleece it provided.“They were sheared like sheep, and the wool was woven into blankets,” recounted Eliot White-Hill of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. “Blankets were like currency in our economy prior to contact and some of the most important things you could own and give away as gifts.”The dogs were fed a diet of fish and elk and were seen as beloved family members.“It’s not just a dog – it’s a relative. It has enormous spiritual power, conveyed in its wool,” explained Michael Pavel, an elder of the Skokomish-Twana tribe and one of the study's authors. “Imagine being able to receive the gift of wool fiber, being able to learn to weave that into yarn, into an entity, or a blanket or robe that you could wrap yourself in the coldest of winter and feel the warmth of those prayers. That’s how we look at it, and we can now enjoy a scientific view, as well.”Unfortunately, the breed did not survive colonization. It’s not clear exactly what caused the demise of the Coast Salish wooly dog – the introduction of European dog breeds, rules enforced on First Nations people during assimilation and displacement, or smallpox epidemics being a few of the hypothesized factors.But thanks to the preserved pelt of a wooly dog named Mutton, who died in 1859, researchers can now learn a little more about the unique DNA of the dog, its lineage, and insight into the breeding practices of local Indigenous communities.Researchers compared DNA from Mutton’s pelt to that of a separate non-wooly village dog that lived and died in the same region at approximately the same time.While the information gathered from the study did not offer any conclusive answers about the disappearance of the breed, it did hypothesize that the Indian Act of 1876 played a critical role as it would have directly impacted the ability of Indigenous women to pass on valuable knowledge about caring for the dogs and weaving necessary to its survival.On a positive note, the study did support historical facts shared by First Nations people in that area – a valuable piece of the puzzle as many work to reclaim the traditions of their ancestors.“It brought a large group of people together that reaffirmed for us the history we know,” stated Violet Elliott, also of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. “It was a gift of collaboration with other nations.”

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Last month, the Humane Society of Washington shared a brutally honest adoption post in which they introduced a cat who is up for adoption. The adoption post, which went viral, describes the feline in question as “a more lively houseplant.”The three-year-old tortoiseshell cat named Quinn arrived at the Humane Society of Washington County in Hagerstown, Maryland, in August as a stray. According to the post, Quinn is currently the shelter’s longest-term cat resident.This is not the first time the shelter advertised Quinn’s adoption. However, since the first post hasn’t helped Quinn find her person, the shelter decided to change tactics with a brutally honest profile.“Do you want a cat who doesn’t want you? Do you crave the feeling of being judged in your own home? Do you need someone who will slap you back into reality without notice? If you answered yes to any of these questions we have a cat for you!” posted the Humane Society of Washington County on Facebook. “Meet Quinn!” the shelter added.The post went on to say that Quinn’s not for everyone. “But surely there’s someone out there who would appreciate her icy stare and her sudden smacks.”Continuing to highlight all of Quinn’s quirks the post said “She has an uncanny ability to make people feel unwelcome in her presence!” This particular trait makes Quinn perfect for people who are tired of visitors and just want to enjoy the peace of their home. Additionally, Quinn isn’t an overly energetic feline. “Quinn only seems to want to play about once a month,” making her an ideal companion for people who aren’t big fans of physical activity.“Quinn is essentially a more lively houseplant, because all she really needs a human for is food, water, and changing her litter,” said the shelter.“If you adopt Quinn you will not be her owner, because Quinn cannot be owned. She will own you, your house, your belongings, and everything you hold dear.” The shelter also noted that Quinn isn’t on the main adoption floor with other felines and must be asked for by name. The feisty feline has taken up residence in an office where she rules with an iron paw. Anyone interested in being “Quinn’s servant” should not have canines or small children in the house. “Quinn would challenge any dog to a fight. For the dog’s safety, it’s best that she goes to a home without any canines,” said the shelter. The Humane Society of Washington County added - “Quinn is like a more physical version of someone yelling ‘Get off my lawn!’ at small children.” - leaving teens and adults as only suitable housemates. “We originally [shared] a conservative post highlighting Quinn’s strengths, but when no one came for her, we decided the best way to find her a home was to rip off the band-aid and just let her true colors shine,” said Collin A. Berry, executive director of the Humane Society of Washington County, to Fox News Digital. Soon after Quinn arrived at the shelter it became clear that she wasn’t a particularly social feline. She didn’t allow any of the staff to touch her for close to a week. After being sedated for an exam, and given a clean bill of health, it became clear that her behavior wasn’t the result of pain or an underlying health condition. “Everyone thought time and space would help, but as it turns out, Quinn is just Quinn,” said Berry. “She’s a lady who knows what she wants and when she wants it.”We’re happy to report that Quinn has been adopted! It turns out honesty is the best policy! Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

An AI App Helps Vets Diagnose Cats By Detecting Their Pain Levels

Every cat owner has wondered what their cat is thinking about - at least once in a while. You see your feline friend just standing there in the corner, its gaze fixed on something and its expression a true enigma. Sadly, it’s not that easy to read a cat’s emotions, so most of it just remains a mystery. Until now, that is. An Alberta-based company is developing an app that could change the way we see cats and their emotions. The innovative AI app is named Tably, and it aims to help vet clinics assess a cat’s pain more easily. Susan Groenveld, one of the developers of Tably, said that felines visit the vet far less than dogs. "And when you really unpack that, it's because they hide their pain. When a cat is in pain, they go and hide under the bed, versus a dog that'll present to the owner, like kids do," said Groeneveld, the founder at Sylvester.ai, the company developing the  Tably app. "I thought, wouldn't it be cool if everyday people that love their pets would know if their animal may be demonstrating pain."An earlier version of the app already showed remarkable success, with tens of thousands of downloads around the world. Susan Groeneveld said that those early stages of the app acquired around 54,000 downloads in just a week, showing that there is a big need for something like this. "This told us that people were really, really interested in it," she said. "But we really wanted to make sure that it was validated and veterinarians actually supported it because it was a really easy opportunity for us to become a novelty."As the work progressed, the app had been clinically tested by both veterinarians and pet owners in the United States, Canada, as well as in Europe. It is expected that the app will arrive in the digital market in the U.S., Singapore, and France in January. And for Canada, the app should see a release this fall. How does Tably work? The app uses special algorithms that apply standards and facial pain scores that vets previously created. With that, the vets can review the results and better assess the cat’s state. "We believe our technology will make it more accurate because there's less human bias in the subjectivity of the assessment," Groeneveld said.Positive reviews have been overwhelming so far, many of them coming from respected vets. Dr. Liz Ruelle, a vet at the Wild Rose Cat Clinic in Calgary, Alberta, is on the advisory board for the Tably app. Her involvement is very important for the developers, and Dr. Ruelle used the app in her practice. In fact, Dr. Ruelle states that she definitely plans on using the app in her future work and said for  Yahoo: “When a cat experiences pain, its eyes and eyelid positions change and they shift their ear positions. Like if we're in a good mood and we smile, we could think of how our cheeks are uplifted. We see the apples of our cheeks. If I had whiskers on my cheeks, then I would have that same uplifted, happy whiskers," she said. "But when I'm feeling sad, or headache, or painful, then those facial muscles start to sag down … instead of being upright and perky whiskers, they would be kind of dropping down the face."The best thing of all - the app won’t be exclusive to vets. Groeneveld and Ruell stated that a special lite version is planned, which will be aimed at pet owners to use at home. No exact dates have been provided, however. 

Can Cats Get Frostbite?

When a cat is exposed to extremely cold conditions, they are at risk of frostbite, which may require professional veterinary care. But what is frostbite, what puts a cat at risk of frostbite, and what can be done to treat it? Here’s a short guide to help you better understand this condition and keep your cat safe.

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