Parrots of Africa | Tunde Folawiyo

January 8, 2014 Editor Uncategorized

Due to the diversity of its climate and landscape, Africa is home to some of the most colourful and exotic bird species in the world, and has a particularly wide range of parrots residing in its forests and grasslands. One example is the Rose-ringed Parakeet, an Afro-Asian species which can be found in Ethiopia, Chad, Cameroon, Benin, as well as the native country of Tunde Folawiyo, Nigeria.

These parakeets are docile creatures who will happily roost with a variety of other bird species, including mynas, crows and other types of parrots. Rather than making their nests on branches, which might make them vulnerable to predators, rose-ringed parakeets usually opt to build nests inside the natural cavities found in tree trunks, although they sometimes choose rock crevices instead.

This bird is one of the few species to have adapted to living in habitats which have been disturbed by humans; because of this, they have managed to survive the massive deforestation and urbanisation, which has occurred across many parts of the continent. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, berries, nuts and fruits, although flocks which reside closer to residential areas will often forage within people’s orchards and farms.

Another parrot family member that many are aware of, including Tunde Folawiyo is the Yellow-collared lovebird. Whilst these birds have been introduced to both Kenya and Burundi, they originate in the north-eastern regions of Tanzania. These creatures are smaller than most parrots, with an average height of approximately 5.5 inches, and have red beaks, black heads and a green body, with a yellow ring around their necks, from which the first part of their name is derived. Their title of ‘lovebirds’ comes from their monogamous pairing habits; after mating season, the male and female continue to live in the same nest, often sitting together for hours at a time each day.

Unlike the Rose-ringed parakeet, this sub-species tends to live in open areas of grassland, rarely venturing into dense forests, except when in search of food. Their diet is made up of grasses, vegetables and fruit, and they are known to have a particular penchant for figs; however, when these foods are scarce, the birds will often consume insects instead. Although not generally aggressive, they will occasionally attack crops if the wild vegetation near their nests diminishes; for this reason, local residents in Tanzania often view these birds as pests.