The slaty-headed parakeet (Psittacula himalayana) belongs to the family of parakeets, Psittaculidae. These parakeet species are distributed in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Bhutan. These slaty-headed parakeet species inhabit subtropical coniferous and deciduous woodlands of the Himalayas and surrounding areas. These birds exhibit altitudinal migration.
Slaty-headed parakeet - Overview
- Scientific name: Psittacula himalayana
- Species author: (Lesson, 1832)
- Synonyms: Psittacus (Conurus) Himalayanus Lesson, 1832
- Family: Psittaculidae › Psittaciformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
- Common Name: Slaty-headed parakeet
- Other languages: Chinese: 青头鹦鹉, French: Perruche de l’Himalaya, German: Himalayasittich, Spanish: Cotorra del Himalaya, Russian: Гималайский кольчатый попугай,
- Other names: Himalayan Parakeet, Intermediate Parakeet
- Distribution: India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan
- Diet and feeding habits: wild fruits, orchard grown fruits, nuts, buds, seeds, berries, nectar, flowers, shoots and acorns
- IUCN status listing: Least Concern (LC)
Appearance, physical description and identification
The slaty-headed parakeet is a medium-sized bird, measuring 38 to 42 cm in length. The plumage is yellowish green. The head is slaty and a black half-collar from chin and throat up sides of neck is present. The males have dark maroon patches on inner wing coverts.The central tail feathers are longer in males. The base of the tail is green, turning blue in the middle region and the tip is yellow. The iris is black. The upper mandible is rich orange-red with yellowish tip. The lower mandible is yellow. Their call is a squawking sound.
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| Birds of India - Slaty-headed parakeet - Psittacula himalayana |
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| Indian birds - Slaty-headed parakeet - Psittacula himalayana |
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| Birds of India - Slaty-headed parakeet - Psittacula himalayana |
Origin, geographical range and distribution
The slaty-headed parakeet is distributed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan. In India these parakeets occur in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and northern tip of West Bengal.Ecosystem and habitat
These parakeet species inhabit high altitude ecosystems, subtropical coniferous forests, deciduous woodlands, hillside forests and valley woodlands. They are usually found at elevations of 500 to 2500 meters.Diet and feeding habits
The diet of these birds consists of wild fruits, orchard fruits, nuts, berries, seeds, nectar, grains and acorns. They move in small flocks or family groups in search of food.Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of these parakeet species is from March to May in much of their range. They nest in tree hollows and abandoned woodpecker nests. The female lays 4 to 5 eggs and the incubation period is about 24 days.Movement and migration patterns
These slaty-headed parakeet species are mostly sedentary and are residents in their range. Post breeding dispersal of juveniles takes place. They may make local movements for feeding and breeding. In winter, these birds descend into the valleys for most of winter.Conservation status and concerns
The global population size of the slaty-headed parakeet has not been quantified. The overall population size is considered to be stable. These species have an extremely large range and population. Hence considered not "Vulnerable" to extinction.The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these slaty-headed parakeet species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".
| Taxonomy and scientific classification of Psittacula himalayana | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Subfamily: | Psittaculinae |
| Genus: | Psittacula |
| Species: | P. himalayana |
| Binomial name: | Psittacula himalayana |
| IUCN status listing: |  Least Concern |
1.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slaty-headed_Parakeet_-_Psittacula_himalayana_-_DSC04310.jpg
Image author: Raman Kumar | License: CC BY-SA 4.0
2.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/flfeneru/21026773282/
Image author: Florin Feneru | LIcense: CC BY 2.0 (as on 2016-11-20)
3.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/flfeneru/26908452292/
Image author: Florin Feneru | LIcense: CC BY 2.0 (as on 2016-11-20)
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