Cape Parrots - includes Uncapes Poicephalus robustus/fuscicollis/suahelicus

Until recently, the Cape Parrot was classified as a single species with three subspecies in different areas: the nominate, Poicephalus robustus robustus, from South Africa; the southeast African, P. r. suahelicus and the West African, P. r. fuscicollis. The latter two were sometimes referred to as the "Un-cape" parrots.

The largest of the African Poicephalus species, they have red on the wing/"shoulders", grey heads, green bodies and disproportionately large grey upper beaks. Unusually for birds, the female/juveniles are more colourful with a red brow/cap.

Recently DNA evidence has confirmed that the subspecies from South Africa (above) is in fact a separate and distinct species, still called the Cape Parrot, P. robustus. Unlike the other two, its habitat is temperate montane forest.

The remaining prior subspecies, both living in savannah habitats, have been split out into one or two (depending on authority) new species: the Brown-necked, P. fuscicollis (fuscicollis), of West Africa (above) and the Grey-headed, P. suahelicus (or P. fuscicollis suahelicus) of southeast Africa (below). Both names are confusing since another Poicephalus species is called the Brown-headed (both having greyish brown heads/necks) and several African parrots have grey heads.

The Grey-headed, P. suahelicus (or P. fuscicollis suahelicus) native to southeast Africa.