Photo: HenryFlower / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown-headed Parrot
Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus) — Parrots & Cockatoos of Africa.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus) is a member of the Psittacidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 140 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Psittaciformes
- Family Psittacidae African & New World Parrots
- Genus Poicephalus
- Species cryptoxanthus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 140 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-headed Parrot is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Brown-headed Parrot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus) is a member of the Psittacidae family, within the order Psittaciformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF se.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 140 g, with a wing length of about 15.6 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-headed Parrot?
The Brown-headed Parrot is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 140 g.
Where does the Brown-headed Parrot live?
The Brown-headed Parrot is found across Africa with a range covering AF se, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Brown-headed Parrot belong to?
The Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus) belongs to the Psittacidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.
What does the Brown-headed Parrot eat?
The Brown-headed Parrot is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Brown-headed Parrot migrate?
The Brown-headed Parrot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown-headed Parrot endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Brown-headed Parrot make?
1 real field recording of the Brown-headed Parrot — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Brown-headed Parrot's range?
The Brown-headed Parrot has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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