Plum-headed parakeet
| Plum-headed parakeet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Superorder | Psittacimorphae |
| Order | Psittaciformes |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Psittacidae |
| Sub-family | Psittacinae |
| Tribe Information | |
| Tribe | Psittaculini |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Psittacula |
| Species Information | |
| Species | Psittacula cyanocephala |
| Population statistics | |
| Population | Unknown (Oct 2016) |
| Conservation status | Least concern[1] |
The plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a species of parrot found throughout much of the Indian subcontinent.
Description
Males are about 13 inches in length and weigh just over 2 ounces; females are slightly smaller. Males are predominately green in color, with a lighter, more yellowish green over much of the body, and darker on the upper wing coverts and flight feathers. The tail feathers, which are nearly half the overall body length, are blue in color with white tips. The head is a bold reddish plum color, ringed at the neck in black and light blue. A yellow bill and a single red spot on the wing shoulder completes the coloration. Females are more drab in color, with the head being a faded lavender.
The calls are somewhat brief, yet high pitched and musical.[2]
Range and habitat
The plum-headed parakeet is found throughout much of the India south to Sri Lanka, to extreme northern Pakistan, southern Nepal and southern Bhutan. It inhabits forests and fields to an altitude of up to 4,600 feet. It lives in the lower, more temperate areas of forested mountains, and in lowland forest, especially where trees border cultivated areas. It is usually very cautious on the ground, often eating in cereal and rice fields. It also consumes other seeds, berries and fruits, figs in particular, and nectar. It gathers in large groups to spend the night, although breeding pairs usually stay in the nest to prevent other birds, such as mynahs, from taking it away.
Reproduction
The breeding season begins in December and lasts until June. During this time the female is particularly dominant. They are cavity breeders, with 3-6 eggs laid in the nests, the young hatching after 21-23 days after the second egg has been laid. After hatching, the young spend 42 days in the nest. The female stays with the chicks in the nest for about 3 weeks. When the chicks leave the nest, they lose a lot of weight because they don't eat at all or eat very little for a few days. This is to make the first flight as light as possible; after the first flight, the young are fed for some time by their parents and almost all of the other adult birds in the flock.
