Hand Fed Red Bellied Parrot - Poicephalus rufiventris

Noise Level & Talking Ability

Red Bellies are fairly quiet birds but can have their moments. Red bellied parrots are great talkers. They can make a variety of noises and sounds as well as mimic human words. Red bellies can also learn to whistle.

Physical Features 

Red-bellied parrots are a smaller parrot. The head, throat, wings, back, and tail are grey-brown with a slight greenish tinge. The eye is brick red with a dark periophthalmic ring. The beak is charcoal grey, as are the legs and the nails are black. Male red-bellied parrots have the characteristic orange-red abdomen and underwing. Females have a bright green-blue abdomen. Both males and females have blue rumps, and the pantaloons and base of the tail are an electric green colour. Aging males, and sometimes females, may develop an orange blushing in the face. 

Young males, and on occasion young females, may have a small amount of orange in the crown however this usually fades away after the first molt. Young males do have coloured bellies, but it is a paler orange that intensifies with age. The iris on both male and female is dark when young. 

Pet Profile

Red-bellied parrots are an addicting species to work with. They are strikingly attractive and highly intelligent. These birds are best suited to owners who have experience with parrots and are able to promote and enforce good behaviour. Red-bellied parrots make excellent pets and are quick to learn tricks, words, and sounds. 

Diet

Pellets should make up 60% of the diet. Fresh fruits and veggies, and other healthy chop mixes should make up 30% of the diet, and seed should only make up 10% as a treat. Almonds are a good treat choice for most African species, including Red-bellieds. Seeds and fruit are both relatively low in nutrients and should not make up a significant amount of the diet.

Housing

They are an interesting bird that thrives in routine and become accustomed to the habits of their owners. Red-bellied parrots do best in a cage that is between 4 and 6 square feet or so. They don't tend to stress too easily, but too large of a cage will increase the likelihood of the bird overstressing and potentially plucking as a result. Cage placement is also very important, for example, a cage right in front a window tends to be extremely stressful. . 

Breeding Information

Wild Status

Stable - Least Concern
Last assessed October 2016 for the IUCN Red List.