Red-bellied Parrot

Taxobox
name = Red-bellied Parrot
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_caption = Male (left) and female (right)
image_width = 300px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Psittaciformes
familia = Psittacidae
tribus = Psittacini
genus = "Poicephalus"
species = "P. rufiventris"
binomial = "Poicephalus rufiventris"
binomial_authority = (Rüppell, 1845)The Red-bellied Parrot ("Poicephalus rufiventris") is a small African parrot about 23 cm (9in) long of the "Poicephalus" genus. It is a mostly greenish and grey parrot. Males have a bright orange belly and females have a greenish belly.

Description

The Red-bellied Parrot is a small parrot about 23 cm (9 in) long. It is a mostly greenish and grey bird with the green being more prominent over its lower surfaces and the grey more prominent over its upper surfaces. Adult birds have green feathers covering the upper portions of their legs, red irises and dark grey beaks. The species is sexually dimorphic; males have a bright orange lower chest and abdomen, whilst adult females are greenish on these lower areas. The dimorphism occurs from a young age and is seen even in young chicks still in the nest.

Breeding

The Red-bellied Parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days and the chicks leave the nest about 63 days after hatching.cite book |first = David| last = Alderton | title = The ultimate encyclopedia of caged and aviary birds | isbn = 184309164X |pages= p. 224| publisher = Hermes House |location = London, England | year = 2003]

References

*IUCN2007|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=47998|title=Poicephalus rufiventris|downloaded=3 July 2008