The Brown Headed---Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

The following information is a portion of an article written by Eric D. Hilton.

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The Brown Headed is another green bird with a brownish grey head (sounds sensible then to call it brown headed) similar to a Senegal but does not have the colored belly. It has yellow under the wings at the front which unfortunately can only be seen properly when in flight. The iris is a greyish yellow, not a bright yellow as the Senegal. This species is also split into 3 sub species known as:

• Poicephalus cryptoxanthus cryptoxanthus: This is the nominate race ranging from eastern Zululand to southern Mozambique.


• Poicephalus cryptoxanthus tanganyikae: Comes from the east coast stretching from Kenya down through southern Mozambique


• Poicephalus cryptoxanthus zanzibaricus: This species is only found on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba

The differences between these sub species is very slight. The tanganyikae is differentiated by the fact, it is a paler more yellowish green bird than the nominate race cryptoxanthus. The zanzibaricus is said to be slightly larger than tanganyikae, but otherwise identical. Which obviously makes it very difficult to identify Why cant they all be as easy as Senegals?

Habitat: To be found in moist woodland. Feeding on a variety of seeds, nuts, berries and has been seen taking nectar.

Suitability as pets: Hand reared birds make ideal pets and seem to be less liable to nip than the Senegal but obviously they are not as colorful. I have personally found these birds to be a lot quieter than the other birds in the Poicephalus group. So if the slightest noise is a problem maybe this is the bird for you. I have not known of any Brown Headed that speak or imitate noises, but I can see no reason why they should not.

Feeding: Again little information is available as to the type of foods eaten in the wild. In captivity the diet is similar to that of the Senegal. but with less millet and canary seed. I have also found that cooked chicken is not favored by my Brown Headed. Opened Walnuts are liked very much, not only to eat put also to play with and orange is their favorite fruit. and Pine nuts their preferred seed. [In countries of the world where good pellet diets are available, it is encouraged that a pellet mix constitute at least half, if not more of the total diet.]

Breeding in captivity: It is commonly accepted like the Senegal that these birds to not breed until they are about 3 to 4 years of age. But I have personally bred From a hen that was exactly 18 months old to the week when she laid her first egg of a clutch off two which were fertile and did hatch. The Brown Headed like most of the Poicephalus species breeds in our winter months. They lay normally 2 to 3 eggs. They lay with a two day interval between eggs incubation is carried out by the hen and lasts for about 25 to 27 days dependent on the ambient temperature. Commencement of the incubation is usually after the 2nd egg has been laid. The young leave the nest at approximately 8 weeks are independent at about 11 to 12 weeks. The nest box size I can recommend is a bit smaller than the Senegal at 12" high by 7" square again filled with a wood shaving and peat mixture of four parts shavings to one part peat by volume.

Accommodation: Similar to the Senegal.

Sexing: Again the only reliable method is by surgical sexing or the DNA testing. Visual sexing can be attempted, the cock bird usually has a larger flatter head than the hen, there has also been a suggestion that the hens iris is a more greeny yellow than the cock when viewed in daylight but I cannot vouch for this. It is always best to get them surgically or DNA sexed.