The red-breasted parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) belongs to the family of true parrots and parakeets, Psittaculidae.
These parakeet species are distributed in parts of north and northeast India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, China and Indonesia. These red-breasted parakeet species have been introduced into Singapore and Central Japan. There are eight recognized subspecies of these parakeet species.
Red-breasted parakeet - Overview
- Scientific name: Psittacula alexandri
- Species author: (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Synonyms/Protonym: Psittacus alexandri Linnaeus, 1758
- Family: Psittaculidae › Psittaciformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
- Vernacular names: English: Red-breasted parakeet, Chinese: 绯胸鹦鹉, French: Perruche à moustaches, German: Bartsittich, Spanish: Cotorra pechirroja, Russian: Розовогрудый кольчатый попугай, Japanese: ダルマインコ, Malay: Bayan Dada Merah, Indonesian: Betet, Betet Biasa
- Other names: Banded Parakeet, Bearded Parakeet, Indian Red-breasted Parakeet
- Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, vietnam, China, Indonesia
- Diet and feeding habits: wild fruits, berries, cultivated fruits, nuts, seeds, nectar, flowers, shoots, leaves, cereals, grains
- IUCN status listing: Near Threatened (NT)
The eight recognized subspecies of red-breasted parakeet are: P. a. fasciata (Statius Müller, 1776), P. a. abbotti (Oberholser, 1919), P. a. cala (Oberholser, 1912), P. a. major (Richmond, 1902), P. a. perionca (Oberholser, 1912), P. a. alexandri (Linnaeus, 1758), P. a. dammermani Chasen & Kloss, 1932 and P. a. kangeanensis Hoogerwerf, 1962.
Appearance, physical description and identification
The red-breasted parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) is a medium-sized parakeet, measuring 30 to 35 cm in length and weighing 130 to 170 grams. The head is pale bluish gray and there is a thin black line from cere to eye. The chin and the lower cheeks are black. The lower throat and the breast are reddish pink. The belly region and the undertail are greenish. The upperside of red-breasted parakeet is green with greenish yellow patch on the wings.The tail is pointed with pale green tip. The upper mandible is reddish with curved yellow tip. The female has black upper mandible. The lower mandible is blackish. The irises are blackish. The feet are pale gray. The parakeet call is a high-pitched screeching sound.
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| Birds of India - Picture of Red-breasted parakeet - Psittacula alexandri |
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| Indian birds - Photo of Red-breasted parakeet - Psittacula alexandri |
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| Birds of India - Image of Red-breasted parakeet - Psittacula alexandri |
Origin, geographical range and distribution
The red-breasted parakeet species are distributed in northern and northeastern parts India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia and southeastern parts of China.In India, these parakeets are distributed in the states of Uttarakhand, northern Uttar Pradesh, northern Bihar, Sikkim, northern West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and the Andaman islands.
The red-breasted parakeet subspecies P. a. kangeanensis is distributed in the Kangean Island (Indonesia). The subspecies P. a. dammermani is distributed in the Karimunjawa Island (Indonesia). The subspecies P. a. alexandri is distributed in Java, Bali and southern Borneo of Indonesia.
The red-breasted parakeet subspecies P. a. perionca is distributed in the Nias Island (Indonesia). The subspecies P. a. major is distributed in the Lasia Island and Babi Island (Indonesia). The subspecies P. a. cala is distributed in the Simeulue Island (Indonesia).
The red-breasted parakeet subspecies P. a. abbotti is distributed in the Andaman Islands (India). The subspecies P. a. fasciata is distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China.
Ecosystem and habitat
These red-breasted parakeet species are moderately forest dependent. They inhabit various forests, wooded habitats, including human-altered areas ecosystems.These parakeet species inhabit tropical and subtropical forests, tropical and subtropical moist lowlands, deciduous forests, secondary growths, arable lands, teak and coconut plantations, tropical and subtropical mangroves. These species occur in altitudes from 0 to 100 meters.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of these red-breasted parakeet species is mostly fruits, nuts, berries, seeds, flowers, leaves, nectar, grains and cereals. These birds are mostly frugivorous and their primary food is wild and cultivated fruits and berries.Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of these red-breasted parakeet species is from December to April. They nest in tree cavities and abandoned tree holes of other birds. The clutch usually consists of two to four eggs.Migration and movement patterns
The red-breasted parakeet is a non-migrant and mostly sedentary bird. Post breeding, the juveniles may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. They may make local movements for feeding and breeding in their range.Conservation and survival
The global population size of the red-breasted parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) has not been quantified. The overall population size of these parakeet species is considered to be decreasing. Throughout its range it is reported to be generally common. The generation length is 7.5 years. Their distribution size is about 9,400,000 sq.km.The red-breasted parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) does approach the thresholds for being Vulnerable, under the range size criterion, under the population trend criterion and also under the population size criterion. The ongoing destruction of their habitat and the trapping for the live bird trade are the main threats that may endanger the survival of these species.
IUCN and CITES status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the parakeet species and has listed it as "Near Threatened". CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) has evaluated the red-breasted parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) and listed them in Appendix II.| Taxonomy and scientific classification of Psittacula alexandri | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Subfamily: | Psittaculinae |
| Genus: | Psittacula |
| Species: | P. alexandri |
| Binomial name: | Psittacula alexandri |
| IUCN status listing: |  Near Threatened |
1.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Psittacula_alexandri_-Jerusalem_Biblical_Zoo-4-3c.jpg
Image author: SuperJew | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
2.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Psittacula_alexandri_-Changi_Village-6.jpg
Image author: Lip Kee Yap | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 (as on 10-02-2017)
3.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/468030783/
Image author: Lip Kee Yap | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 (as on 10-02-2017)
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