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Difference between revisions of "Plum-headed Parakeet" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Phparakeet2.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|Rajiv+Lather|Rajiv Lather}}]]
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;[[:Category:Psittacula|Psittacula]] cyanocephala
  
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;Psittacula cyanocephala
 
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[[Image:Plum-headed_Parakeet.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by sumit]]
 
  
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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This is a green parrot, 33 cm long with a tail up to 22cm. The male's head is red, becoming purple-blue on the back of the crown, nape and cheeks. There is a narrow black neck collar and a black chin stripe.
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33–37 cm (13-14½ in); tail 22 cm (8½ in)<br />
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'''Male''''
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There is a red shoulder patch and the rump and tail are bluish-green, the latter tipped white. The upper mandible is orangish-yellow, and the lower mandible is dark.
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*Red head
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*Purplish-blue on the back of the crown, nape and cheeks
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The female has a grey head, corn-yellow upper-mandible and lacks the black neck collar, chin stripe and red shoulder patch. Immature birds have a green head and both mandibles are yellowish.
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*Black chin stripe
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*Narrow black neck collar
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The different head colour and the white tip to the tail distinguish this species from the similar Blossom-headed Parakeet (Psittacula roseata).
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*Red shoulder patch
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*Bluish-green tail and rump (white tips to tail)
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*Orange-yellow upper [[Dictionary_M-O#M|mandible]]
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*Black lower mandible<br />
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'''Female'''
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*Grey head
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*Yellow upper mandible ( the female lacks the neck collar, chin stripe and shoulder patch of the male)<br />
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'''Juveniles''': have a green head and both mandibles are yellow.
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====Similar Species====
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[[Image:P10102781.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|S+K+Gudi|S K Gudi}}<br />Karwar, [[India]], November 2010]]
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Males are unmistakable, females could be confused with [[Blossom-headed Parakeet]] but ranges are probably not overlapping.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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The Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a parrot which is a resident breeder in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit and blossoms which make up its diet.
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{| cellpadding="5"
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|-
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| rowspan=2 valign="center"|
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[[Image:Map-Plum-headedParakeet.png|left]]
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|Found in the Indian Subcontinent, mainly in [[India]] (except Thar desert and East), [[Sri Lanka]],  also in the hill zone of [[Nepal]] and West [[Bhutan]], North East [[Pakistan]] and maybe in West [[Bangladesh]]. <br/>
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Common in parts of its range.
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|-
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|<font size=4>Legend</font><br />
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'''<font color="#006600" style="background-color: black">•</font>''' ''P. cyanocephala''; year-round<br />
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<font size="1">Maps/Texts consulted<sup>[[#References|1]],[[#References|2]],[[#References|3]],[[#References|4]]</sup></font>
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|}
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[[Image:IMG 7832.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Rajiv+Mehta|Rajiv Mehta}}<br />Dehradun, [[India]], October 2007]]
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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Usually regarded as [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]]<sup>[[#References|[5]]]</sup>.
  
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From north to south the head and rump of the birds are becoming darker, but this seems to be [[Dictionary_A-C#C|clinal]]. Proposed subspecies ''bengalensis'' (North India) therefore not accepted by most authors.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Plum-headed Parakeet is a bird of forest and open woodland.
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Moist deciduous forest, open woodland and adjacent clearings and cultivations. Found in from the lowlands up to ca. 1300m.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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It nests in holes in trees, laying 4-6 white eggs.
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====Diet====
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A quite [[Dictionary_D-F#F|frugivorous]] parakeet, also taking small to large seeds. Sometimes seen in cultivated area in flocks of several hundred, bringing damage to crops (rice, sorghum, maize, vegetables and orchards).
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====Breeding====
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Breeding season is from December to April, in Sri Lanka also sometimes from July to August. The nest is made in tree holes, often in small colonies in a group of trees. 4 - 5 eggs are laid, rarely 6. Incubation takes 24 days, the nestling period 6 weeks.
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====Movements====
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The species is resident, but some food-related movement can occur.
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====Vocalisation====
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{{ Audio|plum-headed_parakeet_call_alok.mp3 }}
  
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Plum-headed Parakeet is a gregarious and noisy species with range of raucous calls. The usual flight and contact call is oink? repeated now and then.
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Recording by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />
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Sat Tal Forest, Alt. 5500 ft. Uttarakhand [[Himalayas]], [[India]], April-2017<br />
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Call given by two birds while feeding during mid-morning.
  
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Though this species is not exploited as heavily as the sympatric Alexandrine Parakeet the trade takes its toll on local populations across the range. Population is reduced in urban areas and heavily inhabited zones.
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==References==
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# Rasmussen, P.C. and Anderton, J.C. 2005. ''Birds of South Asia''. The Ripley Guide. Washington D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Editions. ISBN 84-87334-67-9
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# Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. 1998. ''Birds of the Indian Subcontinent''. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4004-9
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# Kazmierczak, K. and Singh, R. 2001: ''A Birdwatcher's Guide to India''. New Dehli: Oxford University Press. ISBN 019-565285-1
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# del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. eds. 1997. ''Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 4. Sandgrouse to Cuckoos''. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-22-9
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
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{{GSearch|"Psittacula cyanocephala" {{!}} "Plum-headed Parakeet"}}
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<br />
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{{VSearch|"Psittacula cyanocephala" {{!}} "Plum-headed Parakeet"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
  
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Psittacula]][[Category:Maps]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]]
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==External Links==
 
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*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=psittacula+cyanocephala+ View more images of Plum-headed Parakeet in the gallery]
 
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[[Category:Birds]]
 

Latest revision as of 20:09, 17 September 2023

Photo by Rajiv Lather
Psittacula cyanocephala


Identification

33–37 cm (13-14½ in); tail 22 cm (8½ in)
Male'

  • Red head
  • Purplish-blue on the back of the crown, nape and cheeks
  • Black chin stripe
  • Narrow black neck collar
  • Red shoulder patch
  • Bluish-green tail and rump (white tips to tail)
  • Orange-yellow upper mandible
  • Black lower mandible

Female

  • Grey head
  • Yellow upper mandible ( the female lacks the neck collar, chin stripe and shoulder patch of the male)

Juveniles: have a green head and both mandibles are yellow.

Similar Species

Female
Photo by S K Gudi
Karwar, India, November 2010

Males are unmistakable, females could be confused with Blossom-headed Parakeet but ranges are probably not overlapping.

Distribution

Map-Plum-headedParakeet.png
 Found in the Indian Subcontinent, mainly in India (except Thar desert and East), Sri Lanka, also in the hill zone of Nepal and West Bhutan, North East Pakistan and maybe in West Bangladesh.

Common in parts of its range.

Legend

• P. cyanocephala; year-round
Maps/Texts consulted1,2,3,4

Photo by Rajiv Mehta
Dehradun, India, October 2007

Taxonomy

Usually regarded as monotypic[5].

From north to south the head and rump of the birds are becoming darker, but this seems to be clinal. Proposed subspecies bengalensis (North India) therefore not accepted by most authors.

Habitat

Moist deciduous forest, open woodland and adjacent clearings and cultivations. Found in from the lowlands up to ca. 1300m.

Behaviour

Diet

A quite frugivorous parakeet, also taking small to large seeds. Sometimes seen in cultivated area in flocks of several hundred, bringing damage to crops (rice, sorghum, maize, vegetables and orchards).

Breeding

Breeding season is from December to April, in Sri Lanka also sometimes from July to August. The nest is made in tree holes, often in small colonies in a group of trees. 4 - 5 eggs are laid, rarely 6. Incubation takes 24 days, the nestling period 6 weeks.

Movements

The species is resident, but some food-related movement can occur.

Vocalisation

Recording by Alok Tewari
Sat Tal Forest, Alt. 5500 ft. Uttarakhand Himalayas, India, April-2017
Call given by two birds while feeding during mid-morning.

References

  1. Rasmussen, P.C. and Anderton, J.C. 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Washington D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Editions. ISBN 84-87334-67-9
  2. Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. 1998. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4004-9
  3. Kazmierczak, K. and Singh, R. 2001: A Birdwatcher's Guide to India. New Dehli: Oxford University Press. ISBN 019-565285-1
  4. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. eds. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 4. Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-22-9
  5. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

Recommended Citation

External Links


GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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