They do have really long tails. They're about the size of a cockatiel, but the tail is REALLY long, about twice the length of the body. I saw a few at a bird fair in Seattle last summer and I've heard that when hand-fed they make pretty good pets. They're softbills, not parrots. Here's a couple photos:

http://www.v-liz.co.uk/namibia/birds.htm (about a third of the way down the page)

http://www.honoluluzoo.org/speckled_mousebird.htm

And now you know pretty much everything I know. :-)

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA

in that photo. I now see why they're called mousebirds! Thanks.

I'd love to hear from mousebird owners about what it's like to live with them. Are they noisy? Prone to biting? Hard to clean up after? Do they like to be head-scratched, petted all over, or left alone?

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA