Plum-headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

梅头鹦鹉

IUCN: Least Concern Found in China

Introduction

Parrot in family Psittacidae endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Formerly considered conspecific with blossom-headed parakeet (P. roseata) before species elevation. Inhabits forest and open woodland, including city gardens, ranging from Himalayan foothills south to Sri Lanka. Gregarious, occurring in flocks. Flight is swift with rapid twists and turns. Distinctive raucous calls. Not found in dry regions of western India.

Description

Mainly green parrot, 33-37 cm long, weighing 55-85 g. Tail reaches up to 22 cm. Male has red head shading to purple-blue on back of crown, nape, and cheeks, with narrow black neck collar and black chin stripe from lower mandible. Red shoulder patch present. Rump and tail bluish-green, tail tipped white. Upper mandible orangish-yellow, lower mandible dark. Female has dull bluish grey head lacking black collar, replaced by yellow; corn-yellow upper mandible; no black chin stripe or red shoulder patch. Immature birds have green head and yellowish mandibles, acquiring dark head after one year.

Identification

Male distinguished from similar blossom-headed parakeet (P. roseata) by white tail tip versus yellow tip in that species. Blossom-headed also has maroon shoulder patch and shorter tail. Female has bluish-gray head versus more pinkish tones in female blossom-headed. The intermediate parakeet (P. intermedia) is considered a hybrid between this species and slaty-headed parakeet (P. himalayana).

Distribution & Habitat

Occurs from Himalayan foothills south through peninsular India to Sri Lanka. Inhabits forest, open woodland, and urban gardens. Absent from dry regions of western India. Makes local movements following fruit and blossom availability. Escaped birds have established populations in New York, Florida, and some Middle Eastern locations.

Behavior & Ecology

Gregarious and noisy species with range of raucous calls. Usual flight and contact call is tuink?. Flight is swift with rapid twisting and turns. Diet consists of fruits, grains, fleshy flower petals (Salmalia, Butea), and occasionally agricultural crops. Breeding season December to April in India, July to August in Sri Lanka. Nests in tree cavities excavated by pair, laying 4-6 white eggs. Female solely responsible for incubation and feeding. Roosts communally. In captivity can mimic sounds and talk well.

Conservation

No IUCN assessment or population data provided in source.

Culture

Described by Greek physician Ctesias in 5th century BC in his lost work Indica, providing earliest known Western account of a talking parrot. Photius preserved fragments in 9th century, noting the bird could speak Indian and, if taught, Greek. Called bittakos in Greek. Ctesias described it as crimson-faced, dark blue on neck, and capable of human-like speech.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0