Timneh Parrot (Psittacus timneh)

You may have heard of the popular Grey Parrot as a pet bird known for it’s intelligence and speaking ability. But you might be less familiar with it’s smaller, darker relative, the Timneh Parrot. While it doesn’t have quite the star power of the Grey, the Timneh makes an equally charming companion bird.

A Mini Version of the Grey

In some ways, the Timneh Parrot is a pint-sized version of the acclaimed African Grey. Sporting a shorter tail and more compact body size reaching only 10-13 inches (25-33 cm) long, the Timneh still boasts some of the same traits as it’s larger cousin:

• A stunning scalloped plumage in various shades of steely grey
• The striking ability to mimic household noises and human speech
• A deeply engaging personality when properly trained and socialized

But the Timneh brings some of it’s own special qualities to the table too. Namely, a beautiful dark burgundy tail and it’s often calm, more laidback nature compared to the sometimes temperamental Grey.

While Greys can learn impressive vocabularies of over 200 words, Timnehs tend to pick up speech at a younger age. So if hearing your name called out in a tiny parrot voice sounds appealing, the Timneh might make your short list of feathered friend options.

Native to the Upper Guinea Forests

In the wilds of West Africa, Timneh Parrots inhabit regions of dense tropical rainforest and wooded savanna. Their native range extends across countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast.

Living in small flocks, these resourceful parrots forage for fruit and leafy veggies on the forest floor and up in the high canopy. And they make quite a sight when hundreds of them flock to roost in riverside trees at night, climbing and chattering before descending to drink.

Unfortunately for the Timneh, both habitat destruction and the pet trade pose grave threats to it’s future in the wild. But when responsibly bred by reputable avian breeders, adding one of these personable parrots to your family can make for years of rewarding companionship.

History and Classification of the Timneh

The story of discovering and describing the Timneh Parrot winds back into the 19th century. Let’s unpack some key events in the species’ taxonomic timeline.

A New Parrot for Science

The Timneh Parrot’s scientific journey began in 1844 when British zoologist and collector Louis Fraser first characterized the bird. Fraser had acquired parrot specimens while traveling in the region of Sierra Leone inhabited by the Timneh people. So he fittingly gave the parrot the binomial name Psittacus timneh.

For a long period thereafter, ornithologists considered Timnehs to be a subspecies of the Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) rather than a distinct species. Both types of parrots were even imported to Europe and America under the umbrella label of “African Grey Parrots.”

A Species in It’s Own Right

But in 2007, a study of DNA, morphology, feathers, and vocals confirmed the Timneh stood as a separate species. The researchers also formally divided the population into two recognized subspecies:

• P. t. timneh – Occurs in southern Guinea to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali and western Ivory Coast
• P. t. princeps – Only found on Príncipe Island in the Gulf of Guinea

So what sets these subspecies apart? The island-dwelling P. t. princeps is darker overall than it’s mainland relative. And the island Timnehs’ eyes range from yellow to a light blue rather than the dark brown seen in P. t. timneh.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The genus name Psittacus stems from the Greek word meaning “parrot.” And the species name timneh directly associates this parrot with the Timneh ethnic group centered in Sierra Leone.

So taxonomy buffs can thank those 19th century scientists for linking the parrot’s identity directly to it’s native home and people.

The Look of the Timneh Parrot

The Timneh Parrot sports a striking yet understated beauty all it’s own. Let’s break down the physical traits that set this species apart from it’s close relative, the Grey Parrot.

Size and Proportions

While not tiny by any means, the Timneh cuts a more compact figure than the larger-bodied Grey.

• Length: 10-13 inches (25-33 cm) from head to tail
• Wingspan: About 15 inches (38 cm) wide
• Weight: 9.5-14 ounces (270-400 grams)

So if you picture a Grey Parrot scaled down to about two-thirds the size, you’ll have a good sense of the Timneh’s petite proportions in comparison.

Plumage and Markings

The Timneh wears a smart suit of feathers in various muted shades of pewter and charcoal grey. It’s scalloped patterning allows this parrot to disappear against the shadowy rainforest canopy.

• Head and Body: Mottled dark grey plumage with lighter grey cheek patches
• Tail: Short and squared off. Colored a deep burgundy red.
• Wings: Dark grey with a faint red-brown wash when spread open. Primaries show fine white stripes.

Add in the pale beige mask around the eyes and beak, and you have one good looking bird!

Eyes, Bill, and Feet

Some other standout physical features of the Timneh include:

• Eyes: Dark brown irises in juveniles. Fade to a light grey with maturity. White eye-rings.
• Bill: Mostly blackish horn color. Upper ridge of upper mandible tan.
• Legs: Typical parrot zygodactyl feet with two toes facing forward, two back.

The Timneh frequently employs it’s sturdy bill to nibble and climb through branches. And it’s strong claws allow these agile parrots to scamper up and down tree trunks with ease.

Where Timneh Parrots Live

Timneh Parrots closely associate with the tropical forests and wooded savannas of West Africa’s Upper Guinean region. But they occasionally venture out into surrounding habitats as well.

Native Range

The Timneh Parrot resides in a swath of Western African countries spanning from Guinea-Bissau eastwards to Ivory Coast. Major populations have been documented in:

• Sierra Leone
• Liberia
• Southern Guinea
• Western Ivory Coast

A smaller group also occupies Mali’s southern forests. And one subspecies, P. t. princeps, is endemic to Príncipe Island in the Gulf of Guinea.

Preferred Habitats

Within it’s native countries, Timnehs concentrate in zones of:

• Lowland and mountain rainforests
• Riverside gallery forests
• Coastal mangrove stands
• Wooded savannas
• Tree crop plantations

The parrots generally stick to forests but may visit surrounding cultivated lands and gardens to supplement their diets.

Elevation Range

Sea level up to 4,900 feet (1,500 m) marks the typical elevation limits for the Timneh Parrot’s movements within it’s home range.

Nests are excavated high up in the rainforest canopy, sometimes over 100 feet (30 m) above ground. And the parrots favor tall riverside trees for their evening communal roosts too.

What Timneh Parrots Eat

The Timneh Parrot’s diet closely matches that of it’s near relative, the Grey Parrot. It takes advantage of a diverse variety of rainforest fruits, seeds, nuts, and vegetables.

Natural Wild Diet

Timnehs utilize their sturdy beaks and claws to forage for nourishment across multiple strata of their home forests. Common food sources include:

• Fruits: Wild figs, oranges, banana-like fruits, palms, etc.
• Seeds & Nuts: Oil palm nuts, cola nuts, piassava nuts
• Flowers & Buds
• Leafy Greens
• Bark & Sap

And notably, Timnehs share the Grey Parrot’s appetite for raiding maize and cacao plantations bordering their forest habitats.

Feeding Behaviors

The feeding behaviors of these resourceful parrots include:

• Foraging on rainforest floors for fallen fruits and seeds
• Climbing up and down trees to access nuts, fruits, and leafy vegetation
• Excavating into soft dead wood for insect larvae with their bills
• Traveling up to 18 miles (30 km) seasonally to take advantage of ripening crops

Timnehs may also lick clay deposits for trace minerals and salts. And occasionally eat snails for extra protein!

Captive Diets

In captivity, the Timneh’s diet should mimic it’s natural wild food sources as much as possible. Plenty of fresh veggies and fruits supplemented with nutritious pellets, seeds, and nuts can help these parrots thrive.

Breeding and Nesting Behaviors

In the wild, Timneh Parrots form long-term bonds with their chosen mates. And the pairs work together to nurture their chicks. Let’s take a closer look at their breeding biology.

Pairing Up

Timnehs generally reach sexual maturity between ages 3-5. At that point, they leave their birth flocks to seek mates. Once a bond is established, the partnership endures for life.

Choosing Nest Sites

Unlike other parrots that nest in tree cavities, Timnehs opt for more open nests. Their chosen sites involve:

• Rainforest canopy trees towering over 100 feet (30 m) high
• Horizontal forks or upward forks in branches
• Lined with chewed wood flakes but otherwise exposed

Nest elevation helps safeguard the eggs and chicks from predators on the ground.

Egg Laying and Incubation

Only the female lays eggs. She produces small white eggs about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long at intervals of 2-5 days. Clutches range from 3-5 eggs in total.

Incubation starts immediately after the first egg appears, lasting about 30 days. During this time, the diligent male feeds his mate as she warms the eggs.

Fledgling Stage

The helpless young hatch out covered in sparse white down. Both parents work to feed the chicks a diet of regurgitated seeds and fruit.

After around 10 weeks, the well-developed juveniles take their first flights. But they may still beg parents for occasional feedings as they learn to forage.

How Timneh Parrots Live and Interact

Timneh Parrots exhibit complex social connections and routines in the wild rainforests. Let’s learn more about how these intelligent birds operate both individually and within groups.

Flocks and Roosts

Timnehs live in small, loose flocks typically numbering a few dozen birds on average. These groups likely consist of paired couples alongside some juvenile birds still sticking close to their parents.

Come nightfall, the flocks converge in groups up to a hundred strong to roost in clusters of tall riverside trees. This communal gathering offers safety in numbers from predators.

Daily Rhythms

The Timnehs’ days follow predictable patterns attuned to light levels.

• Early Morning: Feed actively high in the canopy before heat builds.
• Mid-day: Seek shady dense tangles for resting while the sun is high. Cool off with baths and water drinking.
• Late Afternoon: More intense bout of feeding as things start to cool down.
• Evening: Flock to traditional roosts near water to bathe before settling in.

Vocalizations

Timnehs make a wide repertoire of sounds. As the flocks climb and feed, they produce an array of whistles, clicks, grunts, shrieks, and squawks.

And like their Grey cousins, some have superb vocal mimicry talents. Wild Timnehs incorporate other species’ calls and even emulate chainsaws felling trees!

Getting Along with Neighbors

Timneh flocks generally stick together rather than mixing with other parrot species. But they may forage alongside other birds like hornbills without fuss.

People pose the biggest threat. Timnehs fly far and fast when chainsaws and shotguns announce human presence!

Protecting the Timneh Parrot

Due to the combined impacts of habitat loss and trapping for the pet trade, the survival of Timneh Parrots has become precarious in the wild. Conservation groups have stepped in trying to give this species a fighting chance.

Endangered Status

The authoritative IUCN Red List classifies the Timneh as an Endangered species. Population numbers have likely fallen by at least 50% over recent decades.

Total Timneh Parrots remaining:

• 100,000 – 500,000 individuals
• But likely nearer to the lower end of that range

Factors Driving Decline

Timnehs face multiple synergistic threats including:

• Deforestation: Logging and land clearing removes crucial nesting and feeding trees.
• Trapping: Wild birds are caught intensely to supply demand for the pet trade and bushmeat markets.
• Persecution: Timnehs incur wrath for crop raiding, leading to retaliation killings.

Conservation Actions

Efforts to counteract Timneh losses center on:

• Legal Protection: The species is listed under CITES Appendix I banning commercial trade.
• Anti-poaching efforts: Guards patrol key roosting and breeding sites against illegal trapping.
• Ecotourism: Birding tourism helps fund habitat protection in some areas.
• Responsible captive breeding: Takes pressure off wild populations.

Whether such initiatives can make the vital difference remains to be seen. The outlook is tenuous for Africa’s diminutive dark parrots.

The Timneh Parrot as Pet and Symbol

The Timneh may lack the shining celebrity status of the Grey Parrot, but it has still woven it’s way into human cultures. From avian companion to artistic icon, let’s explore some of the Timneh’s anthropogenic ties.

Pet Trade Popularity

Among parrot enthusiasts, the Timneh has attracted an ardent following. Captive bred birds are prolific in the pet trade centered in Europe and North America.

Timneh merits for companionship include:

• Top-tier speaking and sound mimicry abilities
• Clownish, engaging personalities when socialized
• Less noisy and demanding than similar large parrots
• Long lifespans upwards of 40 years

Avicultural Achievements

Dedicated aviculturalists have also succeeded in breeding a rainbow variety of Timneh mutations. New color variants featuring vibrant red, yellow, white, blue, and albino plumages continue to emerge.

Symbolic Significance

The Timneh Parrot’s cultural cachet remains most prominent across West Africa. Locals consider these highly vocal, shrewd birds the embodiments of souls.

And to those 19th century European explorers, the newly baptized Timneh Parrot formed an indelible part of the exotic tropical experience. Though scientifically eclipsed by the Congo African Grey for decades, the petite Timneh is now reemerging as a unique avian gem in it’s own right.

Conclusion

The Timneh may not seem quite as glamorous as it’s acclaimed cousin, the Grey Parrot. But this smaller, darker African parrot presents it’s own set of compelling qualities for bird lovers.

Distinctive Looks

While Greys dazzle with bright red tail feathers, the Timneh provides an edgier contrast with it’s ruddy burgundy tail and steel grey feathers. That striking color combo looks smart whether climbing through a jungle canopy or perched in an urban living room.

Brainy and Fun-Loving

Timnehs rank among parrots most skilled in mimicking speech and household sounds thanks to exceptional intelligence. And their clownish personalities delight owners with goofy antics. Compared to the more neurotic Grey, Timnehs tend to take life’s ups and downs in stride.

Fierce Loyalty

Like many parrots, Timnehs bond intensely to their human caretakers when raised from a young age. Their devotion and dependence can become profound. So bringing one of these long-lived birds into your home is a major commitment.

In return, you gain a feathery best friend inclined to shower you with affection and stick by your side. For bird enthusiasts seeking an smart, entertaining animal companion, the Timneh presents a top-tier option.