Alexandrine Parakeet

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iAlexandrine Parakeet

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Genus:	Psittacula
Species:	P. eupatria

Binomial name

Psittacula eupatria
(Linnaeus, 1766)

The Alexandrine Parakeet, Psittacula eupatria, is a parrot which is a resident breeder from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia.

It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds and blossoms, which make up its diet.

The Alexandrine Parakeet is a bird of forest, open woodland and cultivation. It is scarce in much of its range. It nests in holes in large trees, laying 2-4 white eggs.

This is a green parrot measuring between 56 to 62 cm with a tail up to 35 cm in length. The male's head is green with grey-blue cheeks and nape. There is a broad black neck ring and broad pink nape band. There is a brownish-red shoulder patch and the tail is yellow-tipped bluish-green. The bill is yellow-tipped red.

The female and young birds lack the black neck ring and pink nape band and are duller. There are five sub-species, differing in mostly minor plumage details and size ; P. e. eupatria (nominate Alexandrine Parakeet), P. e. avensis (Burmese Alexandrine Parakeet), P. e. magnirostris (Andaman Island's Alexandrine Parakeet) and P. e. siamensis (Laos or Siamese Alexandrine Parakeet),

Alexandrine Parakeet is a gregarious and noisy species, forming huge flocks at the evening roosts. Its flight is swift and direct, and the call is a loud scream, similar to, but deeper than Rose-ringed Parakeet, P. krameri.

Trapping pressure to cater to the demands of the pet trade have caused a drastic decline in this species. It is illegal to trade in Alexandrine Parakeets in India and yet these birds are sold in broad daylight in urban bird markets, suggesting that the Indian government is allocating insufficient resources towards the protection of this beautiful species.

Three Alexandrines in a palm tree

Young

Juvenile

[edit] Trivia

Thailand, Mongolia and Iran have issued stamps depicting the Alexandrine Parakeet.

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2004). Psittacula eupatria. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 05 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern