Plum-headed Parakeet

The Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a strikingly colorful bird, with males flaunting a pinkish-purple head while females exhibit a more subdued grey. This species is a medium-sized parrot, measuring about 33 cm in length, with a tail that can extend up to 22 cm. The male's vibrant head transitions to a purple-blue on the back of the crown, nape, and cheeks, and is adorned with a narrow black collar and a black chin stripe. The female, on the other hand, lacks the black and verdigris collar and instead has a yellowish hue in its place. Both sexes have a bluish-green rump and tail, with the latter tipped in white.

Identification Tips

To identify the Plum-headed Parakeet, look for the male's red head with a purple-blue gradient and the female's blueish-gray head. The black neck collar and chin stripe are distinctive in males, while females have a yellow collar and lack the chin stripe. The red shoulder patch in males and the white-tipped tail in both sexes are also key identification features.

Habitat

These parakeets are inhabitants of forests and open woodlands, and they can also be found gracing city gardens with their presence.

Distribution

Endemic to the Indian Subcontinent, the Plum-headed Parakeet ranges from the foothills of the Himalayas down to Sri Lanka, avoiding the arid regions of western India.

Behaviour

Plum-headed Parakeets are social, forming flocks and engaging in a variety of raucous calls. They are agile flyers, often performing swift twists and turns mid-flight. Their diet consists of grains, fruits, and flower petals, and they have been known to visit agricultural fields and orchards in search of food. These birds are also known for their ability to mimic sounds and can learn to talk quite well in captivity.

Song & Calls

The typical call of the Plum-headed Parakeet is a "tuink?" sound, which is repeated intermittently. Their calls are an integral part of their social behavior.

Breeding

Breeding season in India spans from December to April, and in Sri Lanka, it occurs from July to August. Courtship behaviors include bill rubbing and feeding by the male to the female. They nest in tree trunk holes and lay 4-6 white eggs, with the female primarily responsible for incubation and chick rearing.

Similar Species

The Blossom-headed Parakeet (P. roseata) is similar in appearance but can be distinguished by its maroon shoulder patch and yellow-tipped shorter tail. The male Blossom-headed Parakeet also has a more red and less blue head coloration.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet includes grains, fruits, and the fleshy petals of flowers such as Salmalia and Butea. They are also known to forage in agricultural fields and orchards, which sometimes leads them to be considered pests by farmers.

Conservation status

The Plum-headed Parakeet is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it does not face any immediate threat of extinction.