The Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus) is one of Africa’s most extraordinary birds — not just for its striking beauty, but for its rarity. As the only parrot species entirely endemic to South Africa, this vibrant green parrot is a true national treasure, found only in the misty Afro-montane forests of the country’s eastern regions. Cape Parrots inhabit the towering yellowwood forests of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo provinces.
Cape Parrot Habitat
Cape Parrot Coloration
Cape Parrots display a striking blend of earthy and vibrant colors. Their plumage is mostly green with a bronze-olive wash, complemented by orange-red patches on the shoulders and underwings. Females are easily identified by their bright orange foreheads and lores, while males typically lack this coloration, giving them a more uniformly green head.
Meet Lola - Our Female Cape Parrot
In this photo, Lola is about six months old. Her orange forehead has become more vibrant over time.
Meet Max - Our Male Cape Parrot
In this photo Max is about 6 months old. The orange coloring on his forehead is disappearing as he ages while the orange on his wings is becoming more vibrant.
Specialists of the Yellowwood
One of the most fascinating traits of the Cape Parrot is its adaptation to feeding on yellowwood tree seeds. These seeds are notoriously hard-shelled, but Cape Parrots are uniquely equipped to crack them open with ease - just check out the big beak! The yellowwood is both a food source and a home — providing nesting cavities in old, hollow trunks.
The yellowwood forests that Capes depend on have been reduced by logging and agriculture, making habitat loss one of the greatest threats to this endangered species.
Intelligent and Social
Like their close relatives — the Brown-headed and Meyer’s parrots — Cape Parrots are intelligent, social, and highly vocal. In the wild, they live in small flocks and communicate with a repertoire of calls that echo through the forest valleys.
Capes Differ from Brown-Headed Parrots
The Cape Parrot is recognized as a distinct species of parrot—not just a subspecies—since around 2015 after genetic studies separated it from the “brown” forest parrots that live further north. “Brown Parrots” are not true Cape Parrots, but rather two related northern species — the Brown-necked Parrot (Poicephalus fuscicollis fuscicollis) and the Grey-headed Parrot (Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus).
These birds have a more muted green body and brownish or greyish heads—hence the name. For many years, all three were lumped together as Poicephalus robustus; only later did genetic and ecological evidence show the South African population is separate.
Cape Parrots are Extremely Endangered
Sadly, the wild population of Cape Parrots is now estimated at only around 1,500 individuals, placing them among South Africa’s most endangered birds. Habitat degradation, illegal capture, and disease have all taken a toll. Conservation programs, such as the Cape Parrot Project including reforestation projects and artificial nest boxes, are helping stabilize some populations, but the species remains fragile. Some feel that in the future, these parrots may exist only in captivity.
