Psittacus timneh
The Timneh Parrot, Psittacus timneh, is a captivating medium-sized parrot native to West Africa, recently elevated to full species status from a subspecies of the African Grey Parrot. Averaging 28-33 cm (11-13 inches) in length and weighing between 250-370 grams, it is notably smaller and generally darker than its close relative, the Congo African Grey. Its plumage is a slate-grey, with a distinctive dark maroon tail and a horn-colored upper mandible that transitions to black at the tip, a ke...
This species primarily inhabits tropical lowland forests, savanna woodlands, and mangrove ecosystems, frequently found at forest edges or in clearings, typically below 1000 meters elevation.
Timneh Parrots primarily consume a diverse diet of seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and flowers, supplemented by some insects, foraging mainly within the forest canopy.
Timneh Parrots are diurnal, dedicating mornings to foraging in the canopy before often resting during midday heat, resuming active foraging in the late afternoon. They are highly social, typically observed in pairs or small family groups that coalesce into large, noisy flocks at communal roosting...
The Timneh Parrot's geographic distribution is restricted to a relatively narrow band of West Africa, spanning from Guinea-Bissau and Guinea eastward through Sierra Leone and Liberia, extending into the western parts of Ivory Coast. This species is entirely resident, exhibiting no significant mig...
Endangered
- The Timneh Parrot was only officially recognized as a distinct species in 2012, previously considered a subspecies of the African Grey Parrot. - A definitive field mark is its horn-colored upper mandible (beak), which distinguishes it from the all-black beak of the Congo African Grey Parrot. - ...