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Yellow-fronted Parrot

 (Poicephalus flavifrons)

Also known as: Yellow-faced Parrot, Shoa Parrot

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Wild Yellow-fronted Parrots at nest
© Frédéric Maillot via Flickr Wildlife Fred25

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Related publications: Poicephalus flavifrons

Species Profile

Genus: Poicephalus | Species: flavifrons

Size:

28cm (11 in)

Weight:

140–205g

Subspecies including nominate:

Possibly two: P.f. flavifrons, P.f. aurantiiceps

Colour Adult:

P.f. flavifrons: Medium sized parrot; mainly green plumage with bright yellow face and crown; tail olive/brown; thighs and carpal edge occasionally marked yellow; dark upper, pale lower mandible. Eye orange/red. Bare cere and eye ring grey. 
P.f. aurantiiceps: As in flavifrons but face yellow washed with orange.

Colour Juvenile:

As in adult but face duller yellow/olive green. Eye brown.

Call:

Loud, shrill whistles and screeches.

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More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

CITES
PsittaScene August 2002
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
ML Media Collection Catalogue 96297, Yellow-faced Parrot Poicephalus flavifrons, Macaulay, Linda, Ethiopia, Jan. 5 1996, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Site
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006. 2010 edition

Click photo to visit gallery

Wild Yellow-fronted Parrots at nest
© Frédéric Maillot via Flickr Wildlife Fred25

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Poicephalus flavifrons

Species Care

Captive Status:

Not found in captivity outside of Ethiopia at present.

Longevity:

Not recorded.

Housing:

3 x 1 x 2m (9.8 x 3.3 x 6.5 ft) enclosure with indoor access.

Diet:

Seed mix such as: millet, safflower, paddy rice, wheat, oats, buckwheat, canary grass seed, pine nuts (fresh); millet spray, dry or sprouted; limited sunflower, dry or sprouted; fruits such as: apple, pear, orange, cactus fruits, bananas, figs, mountain ash or rowan berries; vegetables such as: carrots, celery, corn on the cob, green beans and peas in the pod; greenfoods; vitamin supplements; complete kibble.

Enrichment:

Not recorded.

Nest Box Size:

Not recorded.

Clutch Size:

Not recorded.

Incubation Time:

Not recorded.

Fledging Age:

Not recorded.

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Click photo to visit gallery

Wild Yellow-fronted Parrots at nest
© Frédéric Maillot via Flickr Wildlife Fred25

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Poicephalus flavifrons

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Unknown, stable.

IUCN Red List Status:

Least Concern

CITES Listing:

Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Not globally threatened. Reasonably common and considered most abundant in the northern, higher parts of its range. Occurs in Abijata-Shala Lakes and Bale Mountains National Parks; elsewhere is considered a minor crop pest. May be exposed to increased risk of pest control towards other species.

Range:

P.f. flavifrons: Highlands of N Ethiopia, and areas around Addis Ababa in C Ethiopia.
P.f. aurantiiceps: Known only from Masango area and Gilo River, SW Ethiopia.

Habitat:

Found from 1800-3000m (5904-9840 ft) in Juniperus and Podocarpus forests. Also found in woodlands in cultivated plateau country and in gallery forest in Acacia savanna.

Wild Diet:

Feeds on leaves, possibly seeds and fruits including Dovyalis abyssinica.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Generally found in pairs, small groups or flocks up to 20, often with Black-winged Lovebirds. Probably use same roosting trees each night.

Clutch and Egg Size:

Not recorded.

Breeding Season:

Not recorded.

Click photo to visit gallery

Wild Yellow-fronted Parrots at nest
© Frédéric Maillot via Flickr Wildlife Fred25

Programs & Projects

WPT has worked with numerous partners to help save this species. Learn more

Academic Research

Related publications: Poicephalus flavifrons

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