Rüppell's parrot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rueppell's parrot
Adult female in Namibia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Genus:	Poicephalus
Species:	P. rueppellii
Binomial name
Poicephalus rueppellii (G. R. Gray, 1849)
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The Rüppell's parrot (also called Poicephalus rueppellii) is a special bird. It lives only in southwestern Africa. You can find it in central Namibia and southwest Angola. These parrots like to live in savanna areas with trees. They also live in dry woodlands. You will often see them near streams or rivers. The bird is named after Eduard Rüppell, a German explorer and naturalist.

What Does the Rüppell's Parrot Look Like?

In captivity

Old painting, female in foreground

Rüppell's parrots are about 22 to 25 centimeters (9 inches) long. They usually weigh between 121 and 156 grams. Most of their body is dark brown. Their head is a dark grayish color.

Both male and female adult parrots have some yellow feathers. These yellow feathers are on the front edge of their wings. They also have yellow feathers covering their upper legs. Young parrots might have duller yellow feathers, or none at all.

Male and female Rüppell's parrots look a bit different. This is called sexual dimorphism. Adult female birds have blue feathers on their lower back and rump. Male birds lose these blue feathers as they grow up.

What Do Rüppell's Parrots Eat?

The Rüppell's parrot eats many different things. Their diet mainly includes seeds, flowers, and leaves. They also eat small insects and bark from trees.

During the rainy seasons, they especially like to eat flowers and insects. They often eat the fruit and seeds from the Terminalia pruniodies tree. Sometimes, they also eat other fruits, especially soft ones.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The Rüppell's parrot builds its nest inside holes in trees. The female parrot lays white eggs. Usually, there are three or four eggs in one group, called a clutch.

The mother bird sits on the eggs for about 28 days. This is called incubation. After the chicks hatch, they stay in the nest for about 68 days. Then, they are ready to leave the nest.

Conservation Status

The Rüppell's parrot is a protected species. It is listed on CITES appendix II. This means that trading these birds is controlled to make sure their numbers stay healthy in the wild.