The genus Poicephalus belongs to the subfamily Psittacinae of the true parrots (Psittacidae) and comprises ten species of parrots native to various regions of the Afrotropical realm, which encompasses Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal in the west, Ethiopia in the east, and to South Africa in the south.

The trade in this species most likely began in the early 19th century, when Senegal parrots first appeared as companion birds in Europe.

[5] Members of the Poicephalus genus are stocky birds with short broad tails and relatively large heads and beaks that often differ in color from their trunks.

With the exception of the red-fronted parrot, the different colours of head and body plumage of these four species do not overlap or blend.

The red-fronted parrot only shows a more fluent transition, with merely the slate grey ear patches and the red front and crown clearly set apart.

The difference is especially clear in red-bellied parrots, where males have red or bright orange plumage on breast, belly and below their wings while the feathers of females are all grey-brown in these areas.

The Cape parrot stands out with a particularly sturdy beak in relation to its overall size which it needs to obtain its main food source, the hard-shelled fruit of Podocarpus trees.

Even though some groups of Poicephalus parrots sometimes cause losses in orchards, maize or millet fields near settlement areas, they are generally shy and keep away from humans.

At dusk, they start preening before then leaving for their feeding grounds; loud calls usually announce the birds' departure.

Subpopulations of red-fronted parrots have been observed roosting in higher altitude areas before descending to their sources of food, overcoming a difference in altitude of about 300 m.[10] After feeding in the morning, Poicephalus parrots often rest in treetops in the vicinity of the respective food source, alternately sleeping or dozing and preening.

Most Poicephalus parrots are dietary generalists, feeding on seeds, fruit, and leaves of different kinds of trees and shrubs.

Apart from trapping and habitat loss, It is probably for this reasons that the Cape parrot is an endangered species, listed as "vulnerable" by the IUCN.

[11] Some Poicephalus species like Senegal and Meyer's parrots are partial migrants, thus compensating for scarce or seasonally fluctuating food supplies.

The chicks are covered in white or light grey downy feathers and their usually rather noisy parents become more quiet and watchful while around the nest.

The African harrier-hawk likewise sometimes robs the nests, holding on to the entrance of the cavity with one claw and grabbing the nestlings with the other.

Like other wild animals, Poicephalus parrots may be infested with internal parasites like Coccidia, Ascaridida, Capillaria nematodes, and Cestoda (tapeworms).

The population dynamics and conservation status of the various Poicephalus species are heterogeneous, ranging from "least concern" to "endangered".

More extensive field studies have been undertaken only in South Africa and Namibia so far, hence the most reliable data come from those regions and the species and subspecies living there.

Hoppe and Welcke point out that data about the population development of Poicephalus parrots are often either inconsistent or obsolete, if they exist at all.

In 2018, only 1.453 specimens of wild Cape parrots were counted,[18] which might indicate a slight increase compared to 2004,[19] even though the data come from different sources.