Timneh grey parrot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Timneh parrot |
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Psittacus
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timneh
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The Timneh parrot (Psittacus timneh) is a special parrot from West Africa. People also call it the Timneh grey parrot. It used to be seen as a type of grey parrot, but now scientists say it's its own unique species. When people talk about it as a pet, they often use the short name TAG. Many people keep Timneh parrots as pets because they are smart and friendly.
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About the Timneh Parrot's Name
The Timneh parrot was first officially described in 1844 by a British scientist named Louis Fraser. He gave it the scientific name Psittacus timneh. This name comes from the "Timneh country" in Sierra Leone, where these parrots are found. The Temne people are a group living in that area.
For a long time, the Timneh parrot was thought to be a subspecies of the grey parrot. But in 2007, a study looked closely at their genes and bodies. This study showed that the Timneh parrot is different enough to be its own species.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Timneh parrots:
- P. t. timneh: Found from southern Guinea to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, and western Ivory Coast.
- P. t. princeps: Lives on Príncipe, an island off the west coast of Africa.
What Does a Timneh Parrot Look Like?
The Timneh parrot is a medium-sized bird. It grows to be about 28 to 33 centimeters (11 to 13 inches) long. It usually weighs between 275 and 375 grams (9.7 to 13.2 ounces).
Its feathers are mostly a mix of grey colors. It has a white area around its face and light yellow eyes. The Timneh parrot is smaller and darker than the regular grey parrot. Its tail is a dull, dark maroon color, not bright red. It also has a horn-colored patch on the top part of its beak.
Like the grey parrot, the Timneh parrot is very smart. It is also good at copying sounds and human speech. Timneh parrots might be less shy around people. They can also start learning to talk at a younger age than the grey parrot.
Where Timneh Parrots Live
Timneh parrots live in the western parts of the wet Upper Guinean forests. They also live in the savanna areas next to these forests in West Africa. You can find them from Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and southern Mali all the way to Ivory Coast.
These parrots usually live in thick forests. But you can also see them at the edges of forests or in clearings. They like forests along rivers and in savanna woodlands. They can even live in mangrove areas. Sometimes, they visit farms and gardens.
Why Timneh Parrots Need Our Help
The Timneh parrot population is shrinking. This is happening for two main reasons:
- Their forest homes are being destroyed.
- Many are caught and sold in the international pet trade.
Losing their forest homes and changes in the weather make it harder for parrots to find food. Parrots need to find different plants, fruits, seeds, and flowers to eat. If they cannot find enough food, their numbers go down.
Timneh parrots are very popular pets in places like the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. This is because they live a long time and are good at copying human speech.
To protect these birds, some rules have been made. In 2007, a group called CITES stopped countries like Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast from exporting Timneh parrots for two years. The European Union also stopped importing wild-caught birds that same year. Even with these rules, many birds are still caught illegally.
In 2012, a group called BirdLife International officially called the Timneh parrot its own species. In 2016, they listed it as an Endangered species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. Protecting their homes and stopping illegal trade are important steps to help these amazing birds survive.
